The men’s FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the centrepiece of an action-packed sporting calendar in 2026.
England and Scotland have already qualified directly for the expanded 48-team tournament and could be joined by either Wales or Northern Ireland, who will compete in March for one of four remaining European play-off places.
England, among the favourites to lift the trophy, will open their Group L campaign against Croatia in Dallas on 17 June before facing Ghana and Panama.
Scotland, appearing at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, will begin their Group C campaign against Haiti before meeting Morocco and five-time champions Brazil.
The tournament kicks off on 11 June with hosts Mexico facing South Africa and will conclude after 103 matches with the final at the New York–New Jersey Stadium on 19 July.
Beyond football, the Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics will be held in Italy in February and March respectively, with Great Britain targeting record medal hauls at both events.
Cricket’s men’s T20 World Cup will take place in India and Sri Lanka in February, where Harry Brook’s England side will aim to claim the title for a record third time.
The summer will feature three major sporting events in the United Kingdom. England will host the Women’s T20 World Cup, Glasgow will stage the Commonwealth Games, and Birmingham will welcome Europe’s best athletes for the European Athletics Championships.
In golf, Europe’s top female players will enjoy home advantage as they seek to reclaim the Solheim Cup from the United States in the Netherlands in September.
The Rugby League World Cup will be staged across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from 15 October, featuring men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions.
Several new events will debut in 2026, including the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest from 11–13 September and rugby union’s Nations Championship, which will pit northern hemisphere teams against their southern counterparts before concluding at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on 29 November.
Calender
5 February to 14 March: Men’s Six Nations
6-22 February: Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
7 February to 8 March: Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka
6-15 March: Winter Paralympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
20-22 March: World Indoor Athletics Championships in Torun, Poland
11 April to 17 May: Women’s Six Nations
11 June to 19 July: Men’s football World Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico
12 June to 5 July: Women’s T20 World Cup in England
23 July to 2 August: Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland
10-16 August: European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England
11-13 September: Solheim Cup in North Brabant, Netherlands
15 October to 15 November: Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh