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FIFA World Cup 2026 continues on Wednesday, 17 June, with four group-stage matches scheduled across Groups K and L as teams begin their quests for a place in the knockout rounds.

England begin their bid to end a 60-year wait for a trophy when they take on Croatia in their World Cup opener, while Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in a record-equalling sixth tournament.

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Among the favourites

Portugal begin their Group K campaign against DR Congo.

Portugal enter the tournament among the favourites to progress deep into the competition, while DR Congo will aim to cause an early upset.

Portuguese great Ronaldo, 41, has a tough act to follow after his old nemesis Lionel Messi scored a spectacular hat-trick for Argentina on Tuesday to equal the all-time World Cup goalscoring record, making a mockery of his 38 years.

Portugal vs DR Congo: Wednesday, 17 June – 19:00 (SA time)

The headline fixture of the day sees European heavyweights England team take on Croatia in a highly anticipated Group K encounter.

England will be eager to make a strong start to their campaign, while Croatia will be looking to draw on their wealth of tournament experience in what promises to be one of the most competitive matches of the opening round.

England vs Croatia: Wednesday, 17 June – 22:00 (SA time)

Group L action features a clash between Ghana and Panama, with both sides targeting a crucial opening victory to boost their qualification hopes.

Ghana vs Panama: Thursday, 18 June – 01:00 (SA time)

The day’s final match sees tournament debutants Uzbekistan face Colombia.

Uzbekistan will be looking to make history in their first-ever World Cup appearance, while Colombia are expected to rely on their attacking talent to secure three points.

Uzbekistan vs Colombia: Thursday, 18 June – 04:00 (SA time)

Wednesday’s fixtures follow an entertaining start to the tournament and could provide further clues as to which nations are emerging as genuine contenders for football’s biggest prize.

For South African supporters, attention is also building ahead of South Africa’s second Group A match against Czechia on Thursday, 18 June as Bafana Bafana continue their bid to reach the knockout stages of the competition.

READ | Hugo Broos on verge of making Bafana history – and saying goodbye

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In naming a side that includes 11 Springboks in the starting XV, the Bulls have sought to make a clear statement ahead of the URC final, as evidenced by the wording used in their team announcement press release.

“This is no longer a side learning how to win a final. This is a side that has been selected to win one,” the Bulls stated.

“Johan Ackermann’s selection is deliberate. No experiments, no risks, no sentiment. Instead, he has leaned fully into experience, pedigree, and proven winners, a spine built on players who have felt the heat of Test rugby and survived it.”

In opting for an unchanged line up, the Bulls also championed the selection of Handre Pollard at flyhalf.

“Pollard doesn’t just play knockout rugby, he defines it,” the Bulls statement continued. “Territory, scoreboard pressure, composure. The Bulls are backing the man who has built a career on making the right decision when everything is on the line.

“Around him, Embrose Papier provides tempo, but it is clear where the control will sit: firmly in Pollard’s hands.

“Up front, the message is even louder. This is a pack chosen to take the fight to Leinster.”

Bulls team for URC final

BULLS – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Bench: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Nizaam Carr.

Kick off is scheduled for 20:30 and the encounter will be broadcast live on SuperSport in South Africa.

Stats and facts

• Leinster’s home win percentage is 88.5 which is second best in the URC era to Glasgow (91.7%)
• The Bulls have two playoff wins (2022 and ’24 SF) to Leinster’s one (GF ’25) in their knockout meetings.
• Only two teams in the URC era hold a winning record against Leinster, and both are South African. The Bulls lead Leinster 5-3, while the Stormers hold a 3-2-1 record.
• Leinster and the Bulls are the leading teams on either side of the URC’s Ireland v South Africa rivalry: Leinster have the best Irish record against South African teams, while the Bulls have the best South African record against Irish opposition.
• Leinster have the best Irish record against South African teams, both by wins (15 out 26) and win percentage (57.7%). They are the only Irish side above 55%.
• The Bulls have the best South African record against Irish teams, and by a clear margin (15 wins out of 24 = 62.5%). They are the only South African side above 50% against Irish opposition
• The 2026 Grand Final brings together the URC era’s two strongest away performers, Leinster with the league’s best away win rate and the Vodacom Bulls as the only other team above 50%.

The Bulls have picked their best-possible team for their URC final against Leinster at Croke Park on Friday (kick-off 8.30pm), replete with 11 Springboks in the starting line-up and five more on the bench.

The Pretoria side is hoping to win their first United Rugby Championship final, on their fourth attempt, at the same venue and against the same opponents that they lost to last year.

They have opted for experience to do this, preferring tried-and-tested players over explosive youngsters such as Cheswill Jooste.

Trophy-winning Boks on Bulls roster

From Willie le Roux at fullback, orchestrating and anticipating, to Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie out wide, the Bulls have strike power that can punish even the smallest lapse. Inside them, Harold Vorster provides the directness, the hard edge, the ability to win collisions that matter in a final.

URC SA player of the year Embrose Papier and Bok ace Handré Pollard dictate terms at nine and 10 respectively, in a game where territory, scoreboard pressure and composure are crucial.

The Bulls have selected a pack to take the fight to Leinster.

Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar and Francois Klopper form a front row built on scrummaging solidity. Behind them, Ruan Nortjé and Ruan Vermaak bring steel and work rate, players who understand that finals are won in the unseen exchanges.

And then the loose trio: Marcell Coetzee (captain), Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom.

It is difficult to assemble a more combative, confrontational combination. Coetzee leads not through words, but through actions that accumulate: tackle after tackle, ruck after ruck. Louw brings carrying power, Hanekom brings dynamism.

Together, they face one of the hardest jobs in club rugby: stopping Leinster at source.

The bench reinforces the theme. Springboks Marco van Staden and Wilco Louw ensure that when the game tightens, the Bulls can increase the intensity rather than defend it.

Bulls team to face Leinster

Willie le Roux, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Canan Moodie, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Handré Pollard, Embrose Papier, Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Marcell Coetzee (capt), Ruan Nortjé, Ruan Vermaak, Francois Klopper, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements

Marco van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, Jeandré Rudolph, Zak Burger, Stedman Gans, Nizaam Carr.