The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 has officially concluded, setting the stage for what will be the biggest tournament in the competition’s history. Hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the expanded 48-team event will feature a record 104 matches and a new 12-group format. The draw took place on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where 42 qualified nations received their group placements, while six remaining spots will be filled through playoffs scheduled for March 2026.The tournament will kick off on June 11, 2026, with Mexico hosting South Africa in the opening match in Mexico City.
As one of the co-hosts, the United States Men’s National Team was placed in Group D and begins its journey on June 12 against Paraguay in Inglewood, California. The USMNT will face Australia on June 19 in Seattle before closing its group stage on June 25 against the winner of the UEFA playoff involving Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo. With the team ranked 14th globally, analysts have described the draw as highly favorable for the Americans.Reigning champions Argentina headline Group J, opening their title defense on June 16 against Algeria. Their group also features Austria and Jordan.
Lionel Messi, who will be 39 at the time of the tournament, has expressed his intention to play as he aims to defend the 2022 title. Brazil, placed in Group C with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland, enters what many observers are calling one of the potential Groups of Death due to the strength and recent form of the participants.
Top-ranked Spain leads Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, while France is set for a blockbuster Group I clash with Senegal and Norway. Football fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the meeting between global stars Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. England, seeking to end a long wait for a second World Cup trophy, lands in Group L with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
With the expansion to 48 teams, the World Cup will feature 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams, creating a new Round of 32. The United States will host all knockout matches from the quarterfinals onward, with the final set for July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The draw ceremony featured world-class performances from Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, and Nicole Scherzinger. Sports icons including Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O’Neal, and Aaron Judge participated in the draw. A standout moment came when FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded former U.S. President Donald Trump the first ever FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World.
The final six teams will secure their spots in March 2026 through Continental and UEFA playoff routes. Early betting markets have already shifted, placing Spain, England, and France among the top favorites to win the tournament.With its record scale, global fanfare, and heavyweight matchups, the 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be one of the most thrilling editions in the sport’s history
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