2026 FIFA World Cup Group C: Schedule, Standings & Prediction
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C delivers one of the tournament’s most fascinating matchups. Five-time champions Brazil lead the group as heavy favorites. Morocco arrives fresh off their historic 2022 semi-final run. Scotland returns after a 28-year absence.
Haiti makes an emotional comeback after 52 years away from the biggest stage. The group plays from June 13 to June 24 across four American venues.
Brazil and Morocco faced each other at the 1998 World Cup in the same group with Scotland. This reunion brings back memories while creating new stories.
Group C Match Schedule & Fixtures
| DATE | MATCH | MATCHDAY | TIME (ET) | VENUE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, June 13 | Brazil vs Morocco | Matchday 1 | 6:00 PM | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |
| Friday, June 13 | Haiti vs Scotland | Matchday 1 | 9:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA |
| Thursday, June 19 | Scotland vs Morocco | Matchday 2 | 6:00 PM | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA |
| Thursday, June 19 | Brazil vs Haiti | Matchday 2 | 9:00 PM | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA |
| Tuesday, June 24 | Brazil vs Scotland | Matchday 3 | 6:00 PM | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL |
| Tuesday, June 24 | Morocco vs Haiti | Matchday 3 | 6:00 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA |
MetLife Stadium in New Jersey hosts the blockbuster Brazil-Morocco opener with 82,500 seats. Gillette Stadium outside Boston holds two matches for 65,878 fans.
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia seats 69,796 for Brazil against Haiti. Hard Rock Stadium in Miami brings 65,326 capacity. Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta rounds out the venues with 71,000 seats.
Group C Standings & Qualification Rules
Current Standings Table
| POS | TEAM | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Morocco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Scotland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Haiti | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The top two teams advance directly to the Round of 32. Third place can also move forward as one of eight best third-place finishers. Teams collect three points for wins and one point for draws.
Tiebreaker Rules
Teams level on points get separated by these rules in exact order:
- Head-to-head results between tied teams
- Goal difference in all three group matches
- Total goals scored across the group stage
- Fair play score from card accumulation
- FIFA world ranking
Goal difference usually settles things after head-to-head records. Teams must watch their discipline because cards can decide advancement in tight situations.
World Cup Group C Team Analysis, Preview & History
Brazil (FIFA Ranking: 5)
Brazil enters as the clear group favorite with an incredible World Cup legacy. They played in every single World Cup since 1930 without missing once. No other nation can claim that record. Five World Cup titles sit in their trophy case from 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. The last championship came 24 years ago.
Their overall record shows complete dominance. Brazil won 76 matches out of 114 played. They scored 237 goals while allowing just 108. The 1970 team with Pele gets called the greatest squad ever assembled. That team won every match in Mexico with beautiful attacking football.
Recent tournaments brought disappointment though. Brazil lost 7-1 to Germany in the 2014 semi-final at home. That result still haunts the nation. They reached quarter-finals in both 2018 and 2022 before getting knocked out. The pressure builds with each passing year without a sixth star.
Vinicius Junior leads the current attack after winning Champions League titles with Real Madrid. His speed makes him extremely dangerous. Rodrygo provides another threat from the same club. Young Endrick joins as the next superstar. Alisson guards the goal with world-class saves.
Brazil should roll through this group with three wins. Morocco presents the toughest test in the opener. Scotland brings organization but lacks the talent to compete. Haiti offers a chance to score freely.
Morocco (FIFA Ranking: 11)
Morocco shocked the world at the 2022 World Cup by reaching the semi-finals. They became the first African nation and first Arab nation to make the final four. The Atlas Lions beat Belgium, Spain, and Portugal before losing to France. They finished fourth overall.
Their defensive performance stunned everyone. Morocco allowed just one goal through five matches and that came from an own goal. Spain couldn’t score in 120 minutes. Portugal managed zero goals. France finally cracked the defense with two goals.
Coach Walid Regragui built tactics around strong defending and quick counterattacks. Achraf Hakimi plays right back for Paris Saint-Germain and ranks among the world’s best. Hakim Ziyech creates chances in midfield. Sofyan Amrabat controls the middle with tough tackling.
Morocco qualified for seven World Cups total starting in 1970. They made history in 1986 by becoming the first African team to reach the Round of 16. The 2022 run exceeded all previous achievements. Morocco co-hosts the 2030 World Cup which gives them extra motivation.
The opening match against Brazil decides the group winner. Morocco can defend against anyone based on 2022 evidence. They need to steal points from Brazil through a draw or upset. Scotland and Haiti both present winnable matches. Morocco should advance in second place with six points.
Haiti (FIFA Ranking: 84)
Haiti returns to the World Cup after a brutal 52-year wait. Their only previous appearance came in 1974. That trip ended badly with three straight losses. Italy beat them 3-0. Poland crushed them 7-1. Argentina finished the misery 4-1. Haiti came home without a single point.
The 2026 qualification brought incredible joy to a nation suffering through violence and poverty. Gang wars forced Haiti to play home games in Curaçao because their country became too dangerous. French coach Sébastien Migné leads the team despite never visiting Haiti.
Young players from North American leagues make up the roster. Duckens Nazon plays forward in Iran. Frantzdy Pierrot scores goals in Greece. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde features for Wolves in England. These names don’t strike fear but they give everything for their country.
Group C gives Haiti the hardest possible draw. Brazil ranks fifth in the world. Morocco just reached World Cup semi-finals. Scotland brings Premier League quality. Haiti will likely lose all three matches. Just being there makes this tournament a victory for a nation that needs good news.
Scotland (FIFA Ranking: 36)
Scotland qualified for eight World Cups dating back to 1954. Every single time they got eliminated in the group stage. Not once did Scotland advance to knockout rounds. Their World Cup history brings only pain.
Brazil beat Scotland four times at World Cups. They lost 4-1 in 1982, 1-0 in 1990, and 2-1 in 1998. Morocco beat Scotland 3-0 in 1998 which knocked them out. Scotland finished last in their group that year.
The current squad features quality players from top leagues. Andy Robertson captains the team from Liverpool. Scott McTominay plays for Napoli in Italy. John McGinn runs the midfield for Aston Villa. Billy Gilmour distributes passes for Brighton.
Scotland topped their qualifying group to earn this spot. The 28-year gap since 1998 makes this return special for fans. Thousands will travel to America to support their team. The pressure comes from decades of World Cup failure.
Brazil presents an impossible task in the final match. Morocco brings defensive excellence that Scotland struggles with. Haiti offers the best chance for three points. Scotland should beat Haiti then hope for help in other matches.
World Cup 2026 Group C Predictions
Predicted Final Standings
| POS | TEAM | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 9 |
| 2 | Morocco | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | +1 | 6 |
| 3 | Scotland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | -3 | 3 |
| 4 | Haiti | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
Brazil wins all three matches and tops the group with nine points. Their attacking talent proves too much for every opponent. Morocco provides the toughest test but Brazil’s quality shows through.
Morocco secures second place with six points from two wins. They beat both Scotland and Haiti while losing narrowly to Brazil. The defensive organization from 2022 carries forward. Morocco advances to face the Group F runner-up.
Scotland finishes third with three points from beating Haiti. They lose to both Brazil and Morocco without scoring much. Three points probably isn’t enough to advance as a best third-place team. Scotland extends their streak of group stage exits.
Haiti goes home winless with zero points. They score one goal across three matches. The experience of playing Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland becomes the reward itself. Haitian fans celebrate despite the results because just being there means everything.
Key Factors & Matches to Watch
Key Factors
Brazil carries massive expectations as always. Anything less than winning the group disappoints fans and media. They haven’t won a World Cup since 2002 which creates enormous pressure. The attacking stars must deliver goals while the defense stays organized.
Morocco’s 2022 semi-final run changed everything for African football. They proved teams from outside Europe and South America can compete. The confidence from beating Belgium, Spain, and Portugal carries into 2026. Defending against Brazil’s attack presents their biggest challenge.
Scotland’s World Cup curse needs breaking after eight group stage exits. The players and fans are tired of coming home early every time. Beat Haiti, steal points from Morocco, and hope for the best. Scotland can’t waste another opportunity.
Haiti plays with nothing to lose since nobody expects anything. The 52-year wait makes every moment special. Young players test themselves against world-class opposition. Scoring one goal would exceed expectations.
Matches to Watch
Brazil vs Morocco (June 13) – The group opener decides first place. Brazil faces their toughest opponent right away at MetLife Stadium. Morocco’s defense can frustrate anyone as proven in 2022. Brazil needs to break down a packed defense. This rematch of the 1998 opener brings huge stakes.
Haiti vs Scotland (June 13) – Both teams need three points desperately. Scotland should win based on talent. Haiti will fight with incredible passion. The winner stays alive while the loser faces elimination pressure. Scotland can’t slip up against the weakest team.
Brazil vs Scotland (June 24) – These teams met four times at World Cups with Brazil never losing. The final matchday brings another chapter in this rivalry. Brazil probably already won the group by this point. Scotland might need a miracle to advance.
2026 FIFA World Cup Group C FAQs
Which teams are in World Cup Group C?
Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland make up Group C. Brazil ranks fifth globally while Morocco sits 11th. Scotland returns after 28 years and Haiti comes back after 52 years.
How many teams advance from Group C?
The top two teams move directly to the Round of 32. Third place might also advance as one of eight best third-place teams.
Where will Group C matches be played?
Four American venues host the six matches: MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Hard Rock Stadium in Florida, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Who is favored to win Group C?
Brazil enters as overwhelming favorites with five World Cup titles. Morocco ranks as the second-best team after reaching the 2022 semi-finals.
When did Brazil last win the World Cup?
Brazil won their fifth title in 2002 when they beat Germany 2-0 in the final. That championship came 24 years ago.
Has Scotland ever advanced past the World Cup group stage?
No. Scotland qualified for eight World Cups and got eliminated in the group stage every single time.
When did Haiti last play in the World Cup?
Haiti’s only previous World Cup came in 1974 in West Germany. They lost all three matches and finished last in their group.
Have Brazil and Morocco played before?
Yes, three times including the opening match of the 1998 World Cup when Brazil won 2-1. Morocco beat Brazil 2-1 in a 2023 friendly. Brazil leads the series 2-1.
Group C brings together World Cup royalty and inspiring underdogs. Brazil chases their sixth title after 24 years of waiting. Morocco wants to prove their 2022 success wasn’t luck. Scotland hopes to finally escape the group stage curse.
Haiti celebrates just being back on football’s biggest stage. Brazil and Morocco should advance while Scotland and Haiti head home. Watch for Brazil’s attacking brilliance and Morocco’s defensive mastery from June 13 to 24.
