World Cup 2018 Groups Schedule: Friday's Live Stream, TV Guide

The 2018 FIFA World Cup got off to a promising start on Thursday, with hosts Russia opening with a 5-0 hammering of Saudi Arabia in Group A. Three more matches await on Friday, as the tournament steps up a gear.

Afternoon fixtures and multi-match days return to every fan's rota when Egypt and Uruguay engage in the second Group A clash before Group B takes centre stage.

There, we will see Portugal and Spain—the two teams most favoured to advance from Group B—engage in a likely first-place decider after Morocco and Iran face off in what is set to be a feisty affair between smaller-stature opponents.

Both Morocco and Iran know three points in their opening match will be pivotal if they hope to make it to the knockout stages, with a draw likely to mean neither can claw back the necessary points to advance.

Friday's Fixtures

Group A: Egypt vs. Uruguay, 5 p.m. local/1 p.m. BST/8 a.m. ET, BBC (UK)/FS1 (U.S.)

Group B: Morocco vs. Iran, 6 p.m. local/4 p.m. BST/11 a.m. ET, ITV (UK)/Fox (U.S.)

Group B: Portugal vs. Spain, 9 p.m. local/7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET, BBC (UK)/Fox (U.S.)

BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub will provide live-stream options in the United Kingdom, while Fox Soccer Match Pass will provide a service for viewers in the U.S.

Preview

Friday's schedule saves the best until last, as Portugal take on Spain at the Fisht

Portugal concluded their World Cup warm-up run with a 3-0 friendly win over Algeria on Thursday, but Spain have looked like a juggernaut of late and haven't lost a game since the 2016 UEFA European Championship—which Fernando Santos' side won.

Tifo Football recently analysed an intriguing Group B, which may appear to be a two-horse race on paper, but the World Cup has a habit of throwing unexpected spanners in the works:

For example, Spain's failure to qualify from their group at the 2014 World Cup was a major shock, with the Netherlands and Chile progressing ahead of them. Coincidentally, it was also then Group B that proved their undoing.

Portugal have since won Euro 2016 and are hoping Cristiano Ronaldo, 33, can turn it on in what's likely to be his last World Cup.

And although the European champions sit fourth in the FIFA rankings, six places ahead of Spain, it's La Roja who are Group B favourites, per OddsShark:

Morocco and Iran may not have the same sheen, but that doesn't mean the tightness of their contest can't still make for an entertaining affair.

Both teams have competed in four World Cup finals, but SuperSport pointed to Iran's miserable record in attempting to progress past the group stage down the years:

That's also the case for Egypt, who have never made it past the first hurdle in two World Cup appearances, failing in their attempts in 1934 and 1990.

Almost 30 years after their most recent showing in a finals, the African nation is back, and injury analyst Ben Dinnery reported they could call upon Mohamed Salah, the man who almost single-handedly got them to Russia, for the clash with Uruguay:

It's no secret the Liverpool forward's participation is likely crucial to any hopes they have of escaping Group A, although defeat to Uruguay wouldn't end their chances of moving on in the competition.

A result against two-time world champions Uruguay would be ideal in handing Egypt a confidence boost to begin their tournament, but the South Americans may be too composed in this type of fixture to give up points.