Kylian Mbappé promised that they "will be back" after coming painstakingly close to defending the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, Lionel Messi's Argentina had the final laugh as they managed to win the summit clash on penalties.
As the tournament reaches the American continent, Mbappé is the French captain. He is motivated to lift the trophy once again and is leading one of the most balanced, technically gifted, and complete squads of the tournament.
Watching the group stage matches of France is not going to be easy for Indian fans, as all three games are scheduled for post-midnight hours.
Here is when Lamine Yamal's Spain and Kylian Mbappe's France will play their respective group stage games and when to watch them:
FRANCE
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 June 2026 | France vs Senegal | New York New Jersey Stadium | 12:30 AM |
| 23 June 2026 | France vs Iraq | Philadelphia Stadium | 2:30 AM |
| 27 June 2026 | Norway vs France | Boston Stadium | 12:30 AM |
SPAIN
| Date | Match |Time
| ----------- | --------------------- |--------
|15 June 2026 | Spain vs Cape Verde |9:30 PM
|21 June 2026 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia |9:30 PM
|27 June 2026 | Uruguay vs Spain |5:30 AM
Colombian singer Shakira will perform the official World Cup song "Dai Dai" at the opening ceremony in Mexico, FIFA said on Friday. The opening ceremony will begin 90 minutes before kickoff between Mexico and South Africa.
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Shakira is also set to perform at the first-ever World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
