The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was completed on Friday in Washington, D.C., setting the stage for the largest World Cup ever held. The tournament will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams and 104 matches from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The ceremony featured stars from several sports, including Rio Ferdinand, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the event was “a celebration of football’s global family.”
Mexico, Canada, and the United States were placed into Groups A, B, and D to avoid meeting each other in the group stage. The opening match will be Mexico vs. South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11.
FIFA will release the full match schedule on Saturday, including stadiums and kick-off times. Some playoff spots remain open until early 2026, but the main group matchups are now confirmed.
World Cup Groups
Group A
- Mexico
- South Africa
- South Korea
- UEFA Playoff D Winner
Group B
- Canada
- UEFA Playoff A Winner
- Qatar
- Switzerland
Group C
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Haiti
- Scotland
Group D
- United States
- Paraguay
- Australia
- UEFA Playoff C Winner
Group E
- Germany
- Curaçao
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ecuador
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
- Intercontinental Playoff 2 Winner
- Norway
Group J
- Argentina
- Algeria
- Austria
- Jordan
Group K
- Portugal
- Intercontinental Playoff 1 Winner
- Uzbekistan
- Colombia
Group L
- England
- Croatia
- Ghana
- Panama
Early Highlights and Key Matches
Brazil and Morocco will meet again after Morocco’s famous 2022 upset. The Netherlands and Japan will renew their recent rivalry in Group F. Spain and Uruguay also headline a strong Group H.
The three host nations face different challenges.
- Mexico has a balanced group but will wait to see which European team joins Group A.
- Canada faces 2022 finalists Qatar and reliable Switzerland.
- The United States meets Paraguay and Australia, plus a playoff winner that could include Türkiye or Romania.
First-time qualifiers will attract attention as well. Curaçao meets Germany in Group E, Jordan faces Argentina in Group J, and Cabo Verde takes on Spain and Uruguay in Group H.
The 2026 World Cup will use a new format. The top two teams in each group, plus eight of the best third-placed teams, will move into a 32-team knockout round.
With new technology, sustainability goals, and record prize money, FIFA expects one of the biggest global audiences in history. Tickets will go on sale next month.
