It’s official.
There will likely be no Lionel Messi and Argentina coming to Levi’s Stadium subsequent summer season for the World Cup.
When FIFA introduced its schedule on Saturday for group-stage matches subsequent June, together with kickoff instances, Switzerland remained the highest-ranked staff that may seem in Santa Clara.
Argentina will play its three group-stage matches in Kansas Metropolis and Arlington, Texas.
As a substitute of defending champion Argentina, the Bay Space will host two Jordan and two Paraguay matches.
Switzerland, ranked seventeenth by FIFA, will open Group B play towards Qatar at Levi’s Stadium on June 13 at midday.
On June 16, Austria will face Jordan in Group J at Levi’s at 9 p.m.
On June 19, Paraguay will face the UEFA C playoff winner at Levi’s in a Group D match at 9 p.m.
On June 22, Jordan will meet Algeria in a Group J match at 8 p.m.
On June 25, Paraguay will return to Levi’s to play Australia at 7 p.m.
Here’s a nearer take a look at the groups that may play at Levi’s:
Switzerland
FIFA rating: 17How they certified: Completed first in its UEFA group with 14 factors (4-2-0), clinching its spot with a 1-1 tie towards Kosovo final month.World Cup appearances (together with 2026): This will likely be Switzerland’s thirteenth look and sixth in a row.Finest World Cup end: The Swiss reached the quarterfinals in 1934, 1938 and 1954.High 3 gamers to look at: Granit Xhaka is the nationwide staff’s captain, in addition to captain for Premier League membership Sunderland. Breel Embolo of French membership Stade Rennais scored 4 objectives in qualifying. Dan Ndoye of Premier League membership Nottingham Forest had two objectives and three assists in qualifying.Inhabitants: 8,986,658Trivia: The Swiss eat extra chocolate per capita than every other nation, with its residents consuming roughly 240 bars per yr.
Austria
FIFA rating: 24How they certified: A 1-1 draw with Bosnia & Herzegovina on the ultimate day of UEFA qualifying moved Austria into the sphere. They outscored opponents 23-5 over eight video games to qualify.World Cup appearances: Austria has performed in eight World Cups, however has not certified since 1998 in France.Finest World Cup end: Third place (1954)High 3 gamers to look at: Actual Madrid heart again David Alaba is way and away Austria’s most completed squad member with 10 Austrian participant of the yr awards. Marcel Sabitzer has been a Bundesliga mainstay in central midfield and Marko Arnautovic, at 36, led the nation in scoring throughout qualifying.Inhabitants: 9,178,482Trivia: The Nineteen Thirties staff, together with its first World Cup entrant in 1934, was often called the Wunderteam. When Nazi Germany annexed Austria, the nation withdrew from the 1938 cup, however after the battle, the Austrians reached their greatest end in 1954.
Australia
FIFA rating: 26How they certified: Completed 2nd in Asian Soccer Confederation third spherical with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia.World Cup appearances: That is their seventh, qualifying for every event since 2006.Finest World Cup end: Spherical of 16 (2006, 2022)High 3 gamers to look at: Stalwart midfielder Jackson Irvine performs for the Bundesliga’s St. Pauli and winger Nestory Irankunda is amongst an upcoming group of younger Socceroos. Riley McGree performs for Middlesbrough in England’s second division.Inhabitants: 27,536,874Trivia: Australia had solely certified as soon as earlier than 2006, reaching the 1974 World Cup in Germany and going scoreless.
Algeria
FIFA rating: 35How they certified: A 3-0 win over Somalia in October sealed Algeria’s place atop its group in African qualifying.World Cup appearances: 2026 will likely be Algeria’s fifth World Cup. Algeria has gained the Africa Cup of Nations twice, in 1990 and 2019.Finest World Cup end: Spherical of 16 in 2014 (misplaced towards Germany in further time 2-1).High 3 gamers to look at: Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli, previously with Man Metropolis. The saudi staff paid 35 million euros for his transfer), Mohamed Amoura (Wolfsburg), who scored 17 objectives within the Belgian Professional League earlier than transferring to the Bundesliga, and Ismaël Bennacer (Dynamo Zagreb, on mortgage from AC Milan).Inhabitants: 46,164,219Trivia: Algeria is the most important nation in Africa by land space, and the Tenth-largest on the earth.
Paraguay
FIFA rating: 39How they certified: Secured the sixth and ultimate spot within the CONMEBOL (South American) qualifying event with a 0-0 draw towards Ecuador. They went 7-7-4, however solely allowed 10 objectives. (Additionally they solely scored 14).World Cup appearances: That is their ninth, however first since 2010. They’re two-time Copa America winners.Finest World Cup end: Quarterfinals in 2010.High 3 gamers to look at: Antonio Sanabria is the main scoring menace for “La Albirroja”; captain Gustavo Gómez and Omar Alderete anchor the formidable protection.Inhabitants: 7,048,458Trivia: Paraguay was one of many 13 groups that participated within the first World Cup in 1930 (16 groups have been invited) and went 1-1, dropping to the USA and defeating Belgium.
Qatar
FIFA rating: 51How they certified: Completed on the prime of its group within the fourth spherical of Asian qualifiers after barely escaping the third spherical after permitting 24 objectives in 10 matches.World Cup appearances: That is their second; the primary was an computerized spot because the host nation in 2022.Finest World Cup end: thirty second, in 2022 (out of 32 groups)High 3 gamers to look at: Almoez Ali was the highest scorer in qualification with 12 objectives; Akram Afif was the MVP of the newest Asian Cup; Hassan Al-Haydos is the staff captain.Inhabitants: 3,143,859Trivia: “The Maroons” have been the primary Arab nation to host the competitors, but additionally grew to become the quickest hosts eradicated and the primary to fail to file some extent. Qatar was knocked out earlier than it even performed its third pool-play match. In all, they have been outscored 7-1.
Jordan
FIFA rating: 66How they certified: Jordan certified second in group B within the Asian Federation behind South Korea with 16 factors (4-4-2).World Cup appearances: 2026 will likely be Jordan’s first World Cup look. Jordan hasn’t gained any necessary tournaments, however reached the finals of the Asian Cup in 2023 (misplaced 3-1 to Qatar).Finest World Cup end: That is their first World Cup, ever.High 3 gamers to look at: Musa Al-Tamari (Rennes, Ligue 1), Yazan Al-Naimat (Al-Arabi, Qatar), each nominated for the perfect participant in Asia Award, and Ali Olwan, who performs for Iraqi aspect Al Karma and scored a number of instances in the course of the World Cup qualifiers.Inhabitants: 11,439,213Trivia: The nationwide staff’s nickname is “Al Nashama” (The Chivalrous Ones), a typical Jordanian moniker related to qualities akin to power, generosity, hospitality and braveness.
