The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was held on Friday in Washington, D.C., setting the stage for the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams. The event will take place from June 11 to July 19 across venues in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The groupings were determined as follows:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Europe Playoff D
Group B: Canada, Europe Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Europe Playoff C
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Europe Playoff B, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, IR Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Play-Off 1 (TBD), Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, FIFA Play-Off 1 (TBD), Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
According to FIFA’s seeding process based on the November 2025 Men’s World Rankings:
– Host nations USA (United States), Canada and Mexico were placed in Pot 1.
– The two placeholders from the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and four European play-off placeholders are assigned to Pot 4.
– Each group must have at least one European team and no more than two. There cannot be more than one team from any other region per group.
FIFA has implemented a structure so that “the four highest-ranked nations – Spain, Argentina, France and England – can’t meet until the semifinals,” provided they win their respective groups.
Six spots remain unfilled. For UEFA teams:
– Sixteen nations will compete in playoffs from March 26-31. These include twelve group runners-up from qualifying rounds and four top UEFA Nations League section winners.
– Four paths—A through D—will determine which teams qualify for the remaining European slots.
Additionally:
– Two final places will be decided via inter-confederation playoffs held in Mexico between March 26-31. Teams involved include New Caledonia or Jamaica versus Congo DR; Bolivia or Suriname versus Iraq.
This expanded format marks a significant change for the World Cup as it increases both participation and geographic diversity among competing nations.
