The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup unveiled the full field of group-stage matchups Friday at the Kennedy Center, delivering a mix of favorable routes, fierce pairings and early storylines for the first 48-team edition of the tournament. With the United States co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico, anticipation ran high as officials, dignitaries and President Donald Trump attended the event.
This expanded format features 12 groups of four, giving more national teams than ever a chance to advance. The ceremony also introduced a new structure that separates the world’s four highest-ranked teams into distinct pathways.
The U.S. men’s national team, already placed in Group D as a host nation, received what analysts immediately labeled a best-case scenario. The Americans will face Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of a UEFA playoff involving Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. The U.S. enters the tournament with recent 2–1 victories over both Paraguay and Australia, adding confidence to a group viewed as manageable.
Mexico headlines Group A, while Canada anchors Group B, each also learning the identities of their early opponents.
Elsewhere, the evening produced one of the most challenging quartets in recent memory. Group L — featuring England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama — was quickly dubbed the “Group of Death.” England’s pairing with 2018 finalist Croatia and a rising Ghana side is expected to be one of the most intense battles of the opening round.
Traditional powers landed widely dispersed assignments:
- Brazil leads Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti and Scotland.
- Germany sits atop Group E with Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador.
- Argentina helms Group J with Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
- France headlines Group I with Senegal, Norway and the winner of a FIFA intercontinental playoff.
Other notable groupings include Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H; and Portugal, the winner of FIFA Playoff 1, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.
In all, 42 teams entered the draw having already qualified. The remaining six slots will be filled in March’s playoff round.
Source: USA Today