The highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage draw was held today in Washington D.C., laying the groundwork for what is expected to be an exciting tournament. With 48 teams from around the world having qualified, the draw revealed the matchups fans and experts have been eagerly awaiting.
The ceremony opened with FIFA President outlining the draw procedures, followed by football legends and celebrities revealing the groups for each team. With the expanded format featuring 12 groups of four teams, every match is set to carry higher stakes.
Host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States were automatically placed in Groups A, B, and D, respectively, while defending champions France and other top-ranked teams were allocated according to FIFA world rankings and confederation rules to prevent early matchups between teams from the same region.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Pots
| Pot | Teams |
|---|---|
| Pot 1 | Mexico, USA, Canada, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany |
| Pot 2 | Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Australia, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria |
| Pot 3 | Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa |
| Pot 4 | Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Playoff A, B, C, D, Intercontinental Playoff 1, 2 |
Playoff Potential Teams
| Playoff | Teams |
|---|---|
| UEFA Play-off A | Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland |
| UEFA Play-off B | Ukraine, Poland, Albania, Sweden |
| UEFA Play-off C | Türkiye, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania |
| UEFA Play-off D | Denmark, Czechia, Republic of Ireland, North Macedonia |
| FIFA Intercontinental Play-off 1 | DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia |
| FIFA Intercontinental Play-off 2 | Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname |
FIFA World Cup Draw 2026 Results
Brazil have been drawn into Group C, where they will face Morocco and Scotland. Defending champions Argentina are in Group J, which on paper looks relatively straightforward, featuring Austria, Algeria, and Jordan.
England are placed in Group L alongside Croatia, while Portugal will take on Colombia in their group. According to FIFA rules, the top-seeded teams, Argentina, Spain, England, and France, are positioned in separate pathways, meaning they can only face each other in the semifinals or final.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups and Teams
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, UEFA Playoff D Winner |
| Group B | Canada, UEFA Playoff A Winner, Qatar, Switzerland |
| Group C | Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland |
| Group D | USA, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C Winner |
| Group E | Germany, Curaçao, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire |
| Group F | Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Playoff B Winner, Tunisia |
| Group G | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand |
| Group H | Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay |
| Group I | France, Senegal, FIFA Playoff 2 Winner, Norway |
| Group J | Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan |
| Group K | Portugal, FIFA Playoff 1 Winner, Colombia, Uzbekistan |
| Group L | England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama |
The stage is set. Who triumphs? @aramco | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/21qBVC6KlE
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2025
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will kick off on June 11, with the opening match taking place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where Mexico will face South Africa, a nod to the 2010 World Cup, which was hosted by South Africa. The knockout stages will begin with the Round of 32 on June 29, and the final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
Potential Groups of Death
While the official draw has yet to finalize all group placements, there are already a few groups that could prove particularly challenging. Group F is expected to be tough, potentially featuring the Netherlands, Japan, and Poland, among others. Similarly, Group L, which may include England, could also be highly competitive, making both groups strong contenders for the title of “Group of Death.”
FIFA World Cup 2026: Blockbuster Matchups
The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage is set to deliver several high-profile clashes. Group C features a mouth-watering showdown between Brazil and Morocco, while Group L pits England against Croatia in what promises to be another heavyweight encounter. Group J adds further intrigue, with defending champions Argentina facing Algeria and Austria, as Lionel Messi looks to make a final lasting impact on the world stage.
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