World Cup key information: Tournament venues, dates and groups

The World Cup is set to kick-off on Thursday night.

HOLDERS: Lionel Messi with the FIFA World Cup. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

VENUES

Group stage: Atlanta; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Arlington, Texas; Guadalajara, Mexico; Houston; Kansas City; Inglewood, California; Mexico City; Miami Gardens, Florida; Monterrey, Mexico; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Santa Clara, California; Seattle; Toronto; and Vancouver.

Round of 32: Foxborough, East Rutherford, Inglewood, Toronto, Santa Clara, Seattle, Houston, Arlington, Mexico City, Atlanta, Miami Gardens, Vancouver, Kansas City.

Round of 16: Vancouver, Atlanta, Mexico City, East Rutherford, Seattle, Arlington, Houston, Philadelphia.

Quarter-finals: Foxborough, Inglewood, Miami Gardens, Kansas City.

Semi-finals: Atlanta, Arlington.

Third-place game: Miami Gardens.

World Cup final: East Rutherford, New Jersey.

DATES

Group stage: June 11-June 27

Round of 32: June 28-July 3

Round of 16: July 4-7

Quarter-finals: July 9-11

Semi-finals: July 14 and 15

Third-place game: Saturday July 18

World Cup final: Sunday, July 19. 

GROUP BY GROUP

(with current FIFA ranking)

Group A: Mexico (15), South Korea (25), Czechia (41), South Africa (60).

Group B: Switzerland (19), Canada (30), Qatar (55), Bosnia and Herzegovina (65).

Group C: Brazil (6), Morocco (8), Scotland (43), Haiti (83).

Group D: United States (16), Turkey (22), Australia (27), Paraguay (40).

Group E: Germany (10), Ecuador (23), Ivory Coast (34), Curacao (82).

Group F: Netherlands (7), Japan (18), Sweden (38), Tunisia (44).

Group G: Belgium (9), Iran (21), Egypt (29), New Zealand (85).

Group H: Spain (2), Uruguay (17), Saudi Arabia (61), Cape Verde (69).

Group I: France (1), Senegal (14), Norway (31), Iraq (57).

Group J: Argentina (3), Algeria (28), Austria (24), Jordan (63).

Group K: Portugal (5), Colombia (13), Congo (46), Uzbekistan (50).

Group L: England (4), Croatia (11), Panama (33), Ghana (74).