2018 FIFA World Cup schedule: Dates, fixtures, groups, venues and kick-off times

During the official 2018 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony at Kremlin State Palace in the Russian capital city of Moscow on December 1 last year, the host nation, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay were put in Group A in the preliminary round of the tournament.

The Iran men's national football team, nicknamed Team Melli, has joined Portugal’s A Selecção, Spain’s La Furia Roja and Atlas Lions of Morocco.

France is drawn in Group C, and is pitted against Australia, Peru and Denmark.

Argentina, Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria are drawn in Group D.

Group E consists of Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia.

While the 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Germany, Mexico, Sweden and South Korea shape Group F, Belgium, Panama, Tunisia and England are in Group G.

Group H has Poland, Senegal, Colombia and Japan.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 14 to July 15. Russia will open the event against Saudi Arabia in a Group A fixture at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium.

A total of 64 matches will be played in 12 venues located in 11 cities.

2018 FIFA World Cup schedule: Dates, fixtures, groups, venues and kick off times

Group Stage

Kick-offs are shown in British Summer Time (BST).

Thursday 14 June

Russia vs Saudi Arabia (Group A) - Moscow (Luzhniki) – 4 p.m.

Friday 15 June

Egypt vs Uruguay (Group A) - Ekaterinburg – 1 p.m.

Morocco vs Iran (Group B) - St Petersburg – 4 p.m.

Portugal vs Spain (Group B) - Sochi – 7 p.m.

Saturday 16 June

France vs Australia (Group C) - Kazan – 11 a.m.

Argentina vs Iceland (Group D) - Moscow (Spartak) – 2 p.m.

Peru vs Denmark (Group C) - Saransk – 5 p.m.

Croatia vs Nigeria (Group D) - Kaliningrad – 8 p.m.

Sunday 17 June

Costa Rica vs Serbia (Group E) - Samara – 1 p.m.

Germany vs Mexico (Group F) - Moscow (Luzhniki) – 4 p.m.

Brazil vs Switzerland (Group E) - Rostov-on-Don – 7 p.m.

Monday 18 June

Sweden vs South Korea (Group F) - Nizhny Novgorod – 1 p.m.

Belgium vs Panama (Group G) - Sochi – 4 p.m.

Tunisia vs England (Group G) - Volgograd – 7 p.m.

Tuesday 19 June

Colombia vs Japan (Group H) - Saransk – 1 p.m.

Poland vs Senegal (Group H) - Moscow (Spartak) – 4 p.m.

Russia vs Egypt (Group A) - St Petersburg – 7 p.m.

Wednesday 20 June

Portugal vs Morocco (Group B) - Moscow (Luzhniki) – 1 p.m.

Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia (Group A) - Rostov-on-Don – 4 p.m.

Iran vs Spain (Group B) - Kazan – 7 p.m.

Thursday 21 June

Denmark vs Australia (Group C) - Samara – 1 p.m.

France vs Peru (Group C) - Ekaterinburg – 4 p.m.

Argentina vs Croatia (Group D) - Nizhny Novgorod – 7 p.m.

Friday 22 June

Brazil vs Costa Rica (Group E) - St Petersburg – 1 p.m.

Nigeria vs Iceland (Group D) - Volgograd – 4 p.m.

Serbia vs Switzerland (Group E) - Kaliningrad – 7 p.m.

Saturday 23 June

Belgium vs Tunisia (Group G) - Moscow (Spartak) – 1 p.m.

South Korea vs Mexico (Group F) - Rostov-on-Don – 4 p.m.

Germany v Sweden (Group F) - Sochi – 7 p.m.

Sunday 24 June

England vs Panama (Group G) - Nizhny Novgorod – 1 p.m.

Japan vs Senegal (Group H) - Ekaterinburg – 4 p.m.

Poland vs Colombia (Group H) - Kazan – 7 p.m.

Monday 25 June

Uruguay vs Russia (Group A) - Samara – 3 p.m.

Saudi Arabia vs Egypt (Group A) - Volgograd – 3 p.m.

Spain vs Morocco (Group B) - Kaliningrad – 7 p.m.

Iran vs Portugal (Group B) - Saransk – 7 p.m.

Tuesday 26 June

Denmark vs France (Group C) - Moscow (Luzhniki) – 3 p.m.

Australia vs Peru (Group C) - Sochi – 3 p.m.

Nigeria vs Argentina (Group D) - St Petersburg – 7 p.m.

Iceland vs Croatia (Group D) - Rostov-on-Don – 7 p.m.

Wednesday 27 June

South Korea vs Germany (Group F) - Kazan – 3 p.m.

Mexico vs Sweden (Group F) - Ekaterinburg – 3 p.m.

Serbia vs Brazil (Group E) - Moscow (Spartak) – 7 p.m.

Switzerland vs Costa Rica (Group E) - Nizhny Novgorod – 7 p.m.

Thursday 28 June

Japan vs Poland (Group H) - Volgograd – 3 p.m.

Senegal vs Colombia (Group H) - Samara – 3 p.m.

England vs Belgium (Group G) - Kaliningrad – 7 p.m.

Panama vs Tunisia (Group G) - Saransk – 7 p.m.

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