JUNE 7-JULY 5
Games and dates to pencil in for the month ahead
Tournament warm-ups
There is still time for some last-minute friendlies for those teams preparing for this summer’s major tournaments in Europe and South America.
Canada have opted to ready themselves for the Copa America with a trip to Europe, lining up friendlies against the Netherlands in Rotterdam before travelling to Bordeaux to face France, while the United States will take on South American opposition in the shape of Colombia and Brazil. The Brazilians will also face Mexico in Texas as part of their Copa preparations.
Elsewhere, Germany’s final game before hosting the Euros will be against Greece, Portugal will take on Croatia and Republic of Ireland, Spain play Northern Ireland, while England and Scotland’s preparations conclude at home against Iceland and Finland respectively.
2026 World Cup qualifying
While Europe and South America prepare for major tournaments, the road to the 2026 World Cup continues in Africa, Asia and CONCACAF.
In Asia, the second-round group stage will conclude. With many of the big guns – Qatar, Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Iraq, United Arab Emirates and Australia – already safely into the next stage, focus turns to the likes of Asian Cup finalists Jordan, who can advance by beating Tajikistan, and Palestine, who can secure their place with a point against Lebanon.
Africa’s group stage is still in its infancy, with only two rounds of the ten matchdays played so far. But, with World Cup qualifying not resuming again until March 2025, the upcoming fixtures will be key, particularly for slow starters like Ghana and Nigeria.
In CONCACAF World Cup qualifying (more on page 88), the first of two groupstage rounds kick off. Jamaica, Panama and Costa Rica will expect to take maximum points from their two upcoming games, although all three will also be keen to avoid any injuries before the Copa America.
Baltic Cup
With none of the three Baltic countries – Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – competing at this summer’s European Championship, they will instead take part in the Baltic Cup, one of the oldest international football tournaments in the world, first played in 1928. This year – the cu
