World Cup 2026: Food, Football & London Markets — Your Complete Guide

Picture this: it's a warm June evening in London. The air smells of chargrilled meat and spiced plantain. Somewhere nearby, someone's got a speaker going. And in a few hours, England kick off their World Cup campaign. This is the summer you've been waiting for.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is genuinely historic — 48 teams, 104 matches, 39 days of football across the USA, Canada and Mexico, running from 11 June to 19 July 2026. And here's the really exciting bit: every single match is free to watch in the UK on BBC and ITV. Most evening kick-offs land in prime time, which means London's food markets and the city's best pubs are going to be absolutely buzzing.

This guide is your companion for the whole tournament. We've pulled together the complete group stage schedule with UK times, lined up the traditional foods from every competing nation, and mapped out the best pubs near London food markets so you can eat your way around the world before every match. Whether you're hosting a watch party, planning a pre-match market visit, or just looking for an excuse to try something new — you're in the right place.

The Complete Group Stage Schedule (UK Times)

★ = England fixture  |  All times BST  |  All matches free on BBC / ITV

The group stage runs 11–27 June 2026. A quick note on timings: East Coast USA games kick off 5pm–midnight BST, Central/Mexico games run 8pm–1am BST, and West Coast games (Vancouver, LA, Seattle) are the late-night ones — typically 2am–5am BST. The sweet spot for most fans is the 8pm–11pm BST window, and there are plenty of big fixtures right there. Use our market map to find the nearest open market to you on any match night.

Group A — Mexico · South Africa · South Korea · Czechia

Group B — Canada · Bosnia-Herzegovina · Qatar · Switzerland

Group C — Brazil · Morocco · Haiti · Scotland

Group D — USA · Paraguay · Australia · Türkiye

Group E — Germany · Curaçao · Ivory Coast · Ecuador

Group F — Netherlands · Japan · Sweden · Tunisia

Group G — Belgium · Egypt · Iran · New Zealand

Group H — Spain · Cape Verde · Saudi Arabia · Uruguay

Group I — France · Senegal · Iraq · Norway

Group J — Argentina · Algeria · Austria · Jordan

Group K — Portugal · DR Congo · Uzbekistan · Colombia

Group L ★★★ — ENGLAND — England · Croatia · Ghana · Panama

After the group stage: the Round of 32 begins 28 June, building through to the Final on Sunday 19 July, 8pm BST — MetLife Stadium, New York/New Jersey. All knockout matches are free on BBC and ITV.

England's World Cup 2026 Campaign: Fixtures, Food & Where to Watch

England are in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama — and all three group games kick off in the 9pm–10pm BST window. That's perfect. It means you've got the whole evening to set things up right: visit a London food market, grab something brilliant to eat, find a good pub, and be settled in well before kick-off. Here's how to make the most of each match night.

Match 1 — England vs Croatia · Wednesday 17 June · 9pm BST · ITV1

The group opener — and a proper grudge match after Croatia knocked England out of the 2018 semi-finals. For the pre-match ritual, Borough Market is your move. It closes at 5pm on Wednesdays, which gives you plenty of time to stock up on Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, pork pies and Cornish pasties before heading over to The Rake or Flat Iron Square for kick-off. New to Borough? Read our ultimate Borough Market foodie guide first.

What Croatia will be eating: Pašticada — slow-braised beef in prune and wine sauce with gnocchi. Burek — flaky pastry with meat or cheese. Štrukli — cottage cheese dumplings. Pršut — Dalmatian dry-cured ham.

Match 2 — England vs Ghana · Tuesday 23 June · 9pm BST · BBC One

Head to Brixton Village Market before this one. It's the heart of London's West African food scene, and it'll give you the best pre-match spread of the entire tournament — proper jollof rice, kelewele, waakye, fufu. For more West African street food spots across London, also check out our guide to Leather Lane Market and its Afro-Caribbean flavours. Go early, eat well, and make your way to Dogstar for kick-off.

What Ghana will be eating: Jollof Rice — long-grain rice cooked in rich tomato, pepper and onion with grilled chicken (the best version of a national argument). Kelewele — spiced fried plantain with ginger and scotch bonnet. Fufu with groundnut soup.

Match 3 — Panama vs England · Saturday 27 June · 10pm BST · ITV1

The group decider, and it falls on a Saturday — which means Broadway Market runs all day (9am–5pm). Spend the afternoon there, take your time, eat your way through it, and then find a pub for the evening. If England are already through, it's a party. If they need the result, it's drama. Either way, Saturday 27 June is a full London food-and-football day.

What Panama will be eating: Sancocho — slow-cooked chicken soup with yams and corn, Panama's national dish. Ceviche de corvina: sea bass cured in lime with onions. Patacones: twice-fried green plantain. Ropa vieja: shredded beef in tomato sauce.

A World Tour on a Plate: 12 Nations, 12 Must-Try Dishes

The World Cup is the greatest food travel opportunity you'll ever have without getting on a plane. Here's what to eat — and where to find it in London — for the matches that matter most. Browse all street food vendors on the platform to find traders near you.

Group A — Mexico vs South Africa · Thu 11 Jun · 8pm BST · The Opening Match

Mexico: Tacos al pastor — spit-roasted pork with pineapple on handmade corn tortillas — is the dish that defines Mexican street food. Add elote (chargrilled corn rubbed with chilli, lime and cotija cheese) and you've got the ideal opening-night snack. Find it at Camden Market and Southbank Centre Food Market.

South Africa: Braai culture is South Africa's answer to the BBQ — a social ritual as much as a cooking method. Boerewors (beef and pork sausage spiced with coriander and cloves), bunny chow (a hollowed-out loaf filled with curry, from Durban), and biltong — air-dried spiced beef — is the perfect thing to have on the table when the whistle blows.

Group C — Brazil vs Morocco · Sat 13 Jun · 11pm BST · First Blockbuster

Brazil: Feijoada is Brazil's national dish — a deeply satisfying black bean and pork stew served with rice and farofa — but for match night, coxinha are your best friend: shredded chicken inside a teardrop of dough, fried until golden. Find Brazilian food at Southbank Centre Food Market and Camden Market. While you're planning your Southbank visit, check out what else is on offer — including gözleme freshly made at Southbank Centre Food Market.

Morocco: Lamb tagine with preserved lemon and olives is the classic — slow and fragrant and deeply warming. For something quicker, msemen (layered Moroccan flatbread) and harira (tomato, lentil and chickpea soup) are the soul of Moroccan street food. Find it at Borough Market and Brixton Village Market.

Group I — France vs Senegal · Tue 16 Jun · 8pm BST · The Classiest Group Match

France: Galettes bretonnes — buckwheat crêpes with ham, egg and Gruyère — are the ideal pre-match bite. Proper boeuf bourguignon for the watch party at home. And a decent French cheese board at half-time. Borough Market has some of the best French produce in London — browse vendor menus to see what's available before you go.

Senegal: Thiéboudienne is widely considered the greatest dish in West Africa — rice cooked in spiced tomato and fish broth with whole grilled fish and root vegetables. It's the kind of dish that takes hours to make and disappears in minutes. Find it at Brixton Village Market and Peckham street food stalls. For more on why West African street food culture is thriving in London, see our piece on UK food market culture.

Group H — Spain vs Cape Verde · Mon 15 Jun · 5pm BST · Best Early Kick-Off

Spain: A 5pm kick-off is rare and wonderful — you've got the whole day to prepare. Paella valenciana (the real thing, with rabbit and chicken), patatas bravas, jamón ibérico cut fresh from the leg, and churros with thick hot chocolate for when it goes to extra time. Borough Market and Maltby Street Market are both outstanding for Spanish produce on weekends.

Group J — Argentina vs Algeria · Wed 17 Jun · 2am BST · Midnight Snack Special

Argentina: It's 2am, you're up for the match, and you want empanadas — half-moon pastries filled with spiced beef, olive and egg. They're the perfect midnight football food. Maltby Street Market and Southbank Centre Food Market both have South American traders at weekends.

Algeria: Couscous with lamb and root vegetables. Brik: crispy fried pastry with egg and tuna. Merguez sausages: spicy lamb seasoned with harissa — found at many London farmers markets.

Group F — Netherlands vs Japan · Sun 14 Jun · 9pm BST

Japan: Takoyaki — octopus-filled battered balls topped with bonito flakes and Japanese mayo — are designed to be eaten at a market and watched disappear in seconds. Karaage (Japanese fried chicken) is the other must-try. Find both at Old Spitalfields Market and Camden Market. Also worth reading: our guide to the best Korean dishes at UK food markets — East Asian street food is having a brilliant moment right now.

Group K — Portugal vs DR Congo · Wed 17 Jun · 6pm BST

Portugal: Pastel de nata — caramelised egg custard in flaky pastry — is one of the great contributions to world food and honestly perfect for any time of day or night. For something more substantial: bacalhau à Brás (shredded salt cod with fried potato and scrambled eggs) or bifanas (pork in garlic and white wine in a roll). Borough Market and Southbank Centre Food Market have the best Portuguese traders in London. Check vendor menus to plan ahead.

Groups E & G — Germany and Belgium

Germany: Bratwurst over charcoal with yellow mustard, currywurst (Berlin's greatest export — sliced bratwurst in spiced ketchup-curry sauce), and a proper soft pretzel. Simple, brilliant, and exactly what you want during a group stage game. Find German street food on the platform.

Where to Watch in London — The Best Pubs Near Food Markets

The formula is simple: visit the market, eat something exceptional, find a pub with a screen and a good atmosphere. We wrote a matchday food guide for Champions League fixtures — the same logic applies here. Here are five London spots that nail the combination.

The Rake — Borough, SE1

A craft beer institution next to Borough Market. Stock up at the market on cheese, charcuterie and hot food first, then settle in here for kick-off. Doesn't get more London than this. → Plan your Borough Market visit

Flat Iron Square — Southwark, SE1

A food market and events space under the railway arches near London Bridge that screens major matches. Multiple street food traders alongside the bar. Minutes from Maltby Street Market and a short walk from Borough Market — the all-in-one option.

The Monarch — Chalk Farm Road, Camden

Multiple screens, late licence, and right on the doorstep of Camden Market — the most internationally diverse food market in London. Read our Camden Market street food guide to know exactly what to order before kick-off.

Dogstar — Coldharbour Lane, Brixton

Three floors, multiple screens, and Brixton Village Market around the corner. This is the England vs Ghana venue — get to Brixton early, eat well at the market, and be in Dogstar for 9pm.

Vinegar Yard — London Bridge, SE1

Street food market and outdoor venue with football screenings, international food traders, and a festival atmosphere throughout the tournament. Close to Borough Market and the Southbank — somewhere between a market and a pub and better than both. Use our market map to find your nearest option if none of these are on your doorstep.

Your World Cup Food Market Calendar

Here's how to match the markets to the matches. Discover all open markets near you any day of the tournament:

• Borough Market (Tue–Sat) — French, Spanish, Moroccan, Portuguese, British produce. Your anchor market for Groups A, C, H, I and K. → Borough Market foodie guide
• Southbank Centre Food Market (Fri–Sun) — Brazilian, French, Japanese, Argentinian traders. Essential for Groups C, F, I and J. → Southbank food spotlight
• Camden Market (Daily) — the most diverse world street food in London. Works for any match, any group. → Camden street food guide
• Brixton Village Market (Daily) — West African food at its best. Non-negotiable for England vs Ghana and France vs Senegal. → Leather Lane: Afro-Caribbean flavours
• Maltby Street Market (Sat–Sun) — artisan producers and international street food. Great for Saturday evening fixtures.
• Broadway Market (Saturdays only) — artisan bread, cheese, street food. Plan your Saturday 27 June around this for Panama vs England.
• Old Spitalfields Market (Daily) — Japanese, East Asian, and global street food in the heart of the City. Great for midweek evening fixtures.
• Brick Lane Market (Sun) — Bangladeshi and South Asian food, vintage, global street food. The Sunday morning recovery plan.
• Greenwich Market (Thu–Sun) — global street food and artisan produce. Ideal for South East London fans.

Use the Food Marketplace directory to discover more markets near you, browse vendor menus, and plan your visits around the full schedule. Not sure where to start? Try our food adventure tool — tell it what you want to eat and it finds the best match near you.

Get Out There

39 days. 104 matches. Free on BBC and ITV. London's food markets open every week. This is the summer to explore both.

Football at this scale only comes around every four years. The food markets are open every week — but they've never had a better reason to visit than right now, when every street food vendor is a flag-carrier for a nation in the tournament. Go to Borough Market and eat France. Go to Brixton and eat Senegal. Go to Camden and eat the entire group stage.

Then find a pub, watch the match, and do it again next week.

Explore more on foodmarketplace.co.uk: All London food markets · Browse vendor menus · Discover markets near you · Food adventure tool · Interactive map

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