The final tournament of the FIFA World Cup is gaining momentum. Tonight into the morning, eight national teams will enter the fray: Australia, Brazil, Haiti, Qatar, Morocco, Turkey, Switzerland and Scotland. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Group C, Matchday 1, June 14, 03:00, New York, MetLife Stadium

Coaches: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy) – Mohamed Ouahbi

The highlight of today's program is the appearance of the five-time world champions Brazil. The pentacampeon manager Carlo Ancelotti has a star-studded squad led by his favorite Vinicius from Real Madrid and the unexpectedly resurrected Neymar. Add to that Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, PSG captain Marquinhos with Arsenal's Gabriel in central defense, Manchester United's Casemiro with Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, Barcelona winger Raphinha, and finally 19-year-old Lyon striker Endrick, who is being hailed as the next Pelé in Brazil.

What the current Brazilian team is made of will become approximately clear in the match against Morocco, the main surprise of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The Atlas Lions then stopped one step away from medals. Leaving Spain and Portugal on the sidelines, the Moroccans lost to France in the semifinals and to Croatia in the bronze medal match. Mohamed Ouahbi's charges breezed through the 2026 World Cup qualifiers – eight wins in eight games, also winning (albeit controversially) the Africa Cup of Nations.

As for stars, Morocco has them too. Although, of course, not in the same quantity or level as Brazil. Suffice it to recall PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi or Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz. Yet in Qatar, Morocco was remembered primarily for its collective football and nearly perfect inter-line coordination. That is, precisely the qualities that often leave recognized favorites helpless.

Group C, Matchday 1, June 14, 06:00, Foxborough, Gillette Stadium

Coaches: Sebastien Migné (France) – Steve Clarke

The other two teams in Group C, Haiti and Scotland, are hardly star-studded. The Scots have not participated in World Cup final tournaments for 30 years, while Haiti has only been at the world forum once, in 1974. Despite having strong players in their squads (e.g., Haitian Wilson Isidor from Sunderland or Scottish Liverpool's Andrew Robertson), it seems that the group's underdogs will play in Foxborough tomorrow morning. However, there is a chance that the Tartan Army, finishing third, could still make the playoffs.

Group B, Matchday 1, June 14, 00:00, San Francisco, Levi's Stadium

Coaches: Julen Lopetegui (Spain) – Murat Yakin

In the first match of Group B, Canada and Bosnia drew 1:1 today. Thus, the winner of the Qatar-Switzerland clash will become the group leader.

The team from the land of clocks and cheese, a recognized authority in Europe, has never advanced beyond the round of 16 at World Cups. Murat Yakin's current charges, who brilliantly navigated the European qualifiers, seem capable of more. At least, experts, ignoring the hosts Canada, consider the Nati (as the Swiss national team is informally called) the main favorite of the group.

Qatar is expected to finish last in this company. Although Julen Lopetegui's coaching genius should not be discounted, the Qataris' potential is objectively not very high.

In the final match of the game day, Australia will try for the first time in history not to lose to Turkey. To be fair, both losses of the Socceroos to the Janissaries (0:1 and 1:3) date back to distant 2004. Moreover, they occurred in friendlies. The match in Vancouver will be the first official meeting between these teams.

The Australia-Turkey match will conclude the program of the first round of Group D. In the first match, the United States steamrolled Paraguay 4:1, making a strong claim for group victory. Who will challenge the hosts – the traditionally technical Turks with a young promising squad or the athletic, pressing-loving Australians?

Group D, Matchday 1, June 14, 09:00, Vancouver, BC Place

Coaches: Anthony Popovic – Vincenzo Montella (Italy)

The 23rd FIFA World Cup final tournament is being held for the first time in three countries (USA, Canada, Mexico) and with 48 teams divided into a dozen groups.

In the group stage, teams in a round-robin tournament will eliminate 16 unsuccessful teams – the last-placed teams in each group and the four worst third-placed teams. After the group stage, a single knockout bracket will be formed for the round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final, which will take place on the night of July 19-20 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, near New York.