The days of watching every game at the World Cup are long gone for most of us. The expansion to 48 teams means 72 group games will be played just to narrow the competition down to 32 sides – the number we have had at the last seven tournaments. Fans will have to sit through 108 hours of group-stage football – plus a lot of injury time and drinks breaks – just to get to the number of teams we have become accustomed to since 1998.Given the unsociable kick-off times for many supporters across the world, it is going to be difficult to watch every game. So, with that in mind, we have picked a more manageable number to make sure you watch during the group stage.Mexico v South Africa11 June, 8pm (all times BST)A repeat of the opening game of the 2010 World Cup, Mexico and South Africa get the tournament under way at the Estadio Azteca, an epic stadium in Mexico City that is steeped in history. It hosted the World Cup finals of 1970, which was won by Pelé’s Brazil, and 1986, which was won by Argentina, as well as England’s quarter-final defeat in the latter tournament at the hands (and feet) of Diego Maradona.The 2010 meeting between the teams is remembered most for Siphiwe Tshabalala’s extraordinary “goal for all Africa” that opened the scoring at the tournament. With Mexico on home soil, expect just as vibrant and passionate a crowd as there was in Johannesburg 16 years ago. The backdrop of a packed 87,500-seat stadium should guarantee a spectacle.Brazil v Morocco13 June, 11pmThe expanded format means the best sides are spread out over 12 groups. But, even so, we only have to wait until the third day of the tournament for a truly eye-catching affair. Brazil, five times champions, face the surprise 2022 semi-finalists, Morocco, in a game that promises plenty.Brazil’s squad is stacked with attacking quality – Carlo Ancelotti has selected six midfielders and nine forwards – and they have been playing a gung-ho 4-2-4 formation recently.Meanwhile, Morocco approached the recent Africa Cup of Nations with a new, more attacking ethos, and we may see them on the front foot at this tournament more than we did in Qatar. That could all make for an enthralling meeting in New Jersey.Morocco players celebrate after beating Portugal in the quarter-finals in 2022. Photograph: David Ramos/Fifa/Getty ImagesNetherlands v Japan14 June, 9pmThe opening game in Group F is another that grabs the attention. The Netherlands are not exactly outsiders given how much talent they have in their squad, but their 1-0 defeat to Algeria in a warm-up friendly shows they have their problems.Japan probably will not be winning the World Cup, even if the manager, Hajime Moriyasu, insists they can, but they have previous experience when it comes to slaying World Cup giants and could pose a problem for the Netherlands. At Qatar 2022, they won group games against Germany and Spain.A win here would throw this group wide open and give them a good chance of topping the group – as they did in 2022. The Opta supercomputer gives them a 26.7% chance of doing so, but that would shoot up with a victory in their opener. They may go for it.The Opta supercomputer gives Japan a 26.7% chance of finishing first in Group F and a 76.2% of advancing to the last 32. Spain v Cape Verde15 June, 5pmThe European champions – and our favourites to win the World Cup – kick off their campaign against minnows who are making their debut in the competition. Cape Verde is one of the smallest countries ever to have its team qualify and the side have made it to this tournament against the odds.Of all the games in the group stage, this one is right up there among the biggest contenders for a thrashing. After all, Spain were pretty convincing in their opening game at the last World Cup, a 7-0 victory over Costa Rica.France v Senegal16 June, 8pmThese two sides have met only once before and it was a momentous game. France kicked off their World Cup defence in 2002 with a 1-0 defeat by Senegal, a result that sent shockwaves through the game and was the start of a disastrous campaign for the French.France dominated that game but could not find a way through, and they may be out for revenge in their opener in Group I this time around. It will be impossible to avoid the vast amount of narrative surrounding this one.The numbers behind Senegal’s defeat of France 24 years ago. Iraq v Norway16 June, 11pmIraq are back for a second shot at the World Cup, returning for the first time since 1986, when they lost all three of their games and made an early exit. They will want to make a better impression when they kick off their 2026 campaign in Boston.Norway, however, will provide a real challenge. They were the top-scoring side in European qualifying, scoring eight goals more than anyone else (37), and they are led by a group of genuine stars, including Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Alexander Sørloth and Jørgen Strand Larsen. Norway are possible dark horses to win the World Cup and could make a statement in their opener.Ecuador v Curaçao21 June, 1amEcuador enjoyed an exceptional qualifying campaign in the South American group. They finished second to Argentina after losing just two of their 18 games and conceding just five goals. Their mean defence makes them a good shout to be this year’s surprise package.They may be forced to attack against the debutants of Curaçao, the smallest country ever to make it to the World Cup. Curaçao will have already played Germany and may need a result in this game themselves. Plus, whatever they do on the pitch, they could be the feelgood story of the entire tournament, which would make for a good watch.Scotland v Brazil24 June, 11pmScotland are back at the World Cup for the first time this century and their fans will be travelling to North America in their droves. The game against Brazil will have been marked in everyone’s calendars since the draw was made. It is a rematch of the opening game of the tournament the last time Scotland played in the World Cup, in 1998.Scotland have been at major tournaments since then, though, most recently at Euro 2024, when they were given a harsh welcome by Germany with a 5-1 mauling in their first match. Lessons should have been learned from that game and hopefully Scotland will make a better fist of it this time around. They have never made it out of the group stage of a major tournament in 12 attempts. Is this the time they finally manage it?Scotland fans enjoy the atmosphere at the 1998 World Cup. Photograph: Richard Sellers/SportsphotoDR Congo v Uzbekistan28 June, 12.30amThis is not exactly a match that screams World Cup pedigree. The Democratic Republic of the Congo have only played at the tournament once, in 1974 under their former name Zaire, and Uzbekistan have never qualified before.Neither team will harbour many hopes of finishing in the top two positions in Group K, with Portugal and Colombia likely to dominate. However, their chances of progressing as one of the best third-place teams may depend on this game. This is their final game of the group stage and both teams might just need to go for broke, making this one worth staying up for.Jordan v Argentina28 June, 3amJordan are one of the weakest teams at the World Cup and Argentina are the reigning champions so this could be another contender for a record-breaking World Cup winning margin.However, Argentina lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia at the last World Cup despite allowing their opponents just 0.15 xG. And the holders have failed to make it out of the group stage in four of the last six editions (France in 2002, Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018). The new format makes elimination extremely unlikely for Argentina, but the weight of expectation has affected others in strange ways.This is an article by Opta Analyst