The FIFA World Cup 2026™ groups have officially been revealed, following a star-studded Final Draw ceremony held at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The event mapped out the full group stage for the expanded 48-team tournament, generating global excitement ahead of next year’s kickoff.
Among the biggest headline fixtures drawn were Brazil vs. Morocco, Netherlands vs. Japan, and a highly anticipated rematch between France and Senegal, recalling Senegal’s iconic victory over the French side in 2002. Newcomers Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan also discovered their historic first-ever World Cup opponents, drawing powerhouses Spain, Germany, Argentina, and Portugal.
FIFA also confirmed that Mexico will face South Africa in the Opening Match on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca—officially marking the start of the tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Updated Match Schedule Coming Soon
The next major update on the road to 2026 will arrive on Saturday, December 6, when FIFA releases the full match schedule, including kickoff times and venues for all 104 matches. The announcement will be broadcast live on FIFA.com from Washington, DC at 12:00 EST (18:00 CET).
A Star-Powered Draw Ceremony
The 12 World Cup groups were drawn by former England captain Rio Ferdinand, assisted by global sports icons Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge, and Wayne Gretzky. The show was hosted by Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum, and Danny Ramirez, with memorable performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Lauryn Hill, Nicole Scherzinger, and the Village People.
FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group Breakdown
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
Tournament Format and Remaining Qualifiers
For the 2026 edition, the top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the Round of 32.
Six qualification spots remain undecided and will be determined in March 2026.
• Four slots will come from the UEFA 16-team playoff featuring Albania, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine, and others.
• The final two spots will be awarded through the FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament, contested by Bolivia, Congo DR, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname.
With powerhouse clashes, rising football nations, and high-stakes playoff battles ahead, the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is already shaping up to be one of the most thrilling tournaments in history.