The FIFA World Cup 2026™ group stage has been mapped out during a dazzling Final Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.
Brazil-Morocco, Netherlands-Japan and a rematch between France and 2002 conquerors Senegal were among the standout fixtures to emerge, while debutants Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan can look forward to mouth-watering match-ups against Spain, Germany, Argentina and Portugal respectively. Mexico-South Africa was also confirmed as the tournament’s Opening Match in Mexico City on Thursday, 11 June 2026.
The next major milestone on the road to 2026 will come when the updated World Cup 2026 match schedule is unveiled live on FIFA.com on Saturday, 6 December, with venues and kick-off times for all 104 matches confirmed at 12:00 EST (18:00 CET) in Washington, DC.
The 12 groups below were drawn in an event conducted by former England captain Rio Ferdinand, with sporting icons Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal serving as assistants. Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum and Danny Ramirez hosted a star-studded draw show that opened with a spine-tingling performance by Andrea Bocelli and also saw Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Lauryn Hill and the Village People entertain the watching world.
Group A
Mexico South Africa Korea Republic Czechia/Denmark/North Macedonia /Republic of Ireland
Group B
Canada Bosnia and Herzegovina/Italy/Northern Ireland /Wales Qatar Switzerland
Group C
Brazil Morocco Haiti Scotland
Group D
USA Paraguay Australia Kosovo/Romania/Slovakia/Türkiye
Group E
Germany Curaçao Côte d’Ivoire Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands Japan Albania/Poland/Sweden/Ukraine Tunisia
Group G
Belgium Egypt IR Iran New Zealand
Group H
Spain Cabo Verde Saudi Arabia Uruguay
Group I
France Senegal Bolivia/Iraq/Suriname Norway
Group J
Argentina Algeria Austria Jordan
Group K
Portugal Congo DR/Jamaica/New Caledonia Uzbekistan Colombia
Group L
England Croatia Ghana Panama
Format and remaining qualifiers
The top two teams from each section and eight best third-place teams from the groups will progress to the Round of 32 at FIFA World Cup 2026.
Six of the 48 teams at FIFA World Cup 2026 have yet to be determined, and will only be known in March 2026.
Four will come from the 16-team UEFA play-offs, which will be contested by Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine and Wales.
The other two spots will be contested by six teams – Bolivia, Congo DR, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname – at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-Off Tournament.
SOURCED FROM FIFA.COM
