World Cup 2026 Draw Reveals Full Group Stage Across 48 Teams

Addis Ababa, December 5, 2025 (FMC) — The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been completed, setting the stage for the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. With the full group stage now confirmed, national teams and fans around the world can chart their paths toward the July 19 final in what is expected to be the most globally representative World Cup in history.

Hosts Mexico, Canada, and the United States were automatically assigned to Groups A, B, and D, respectively. The remaining qualified teams, along with placeholders for playoff winners, were allocated into groups to balance regional representation and competitive equity.

Group A features Mexico alongside South Africa, South Korea, and the winner of the European Playoff D. In Group B, Canada faces Switzerland, Qatar, and the European Playoff A winner. Group C pairs Brazil with Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti, while Group D includes the United States, Paraguay, Australia, and the European Playoff C winner.

Group E brings together Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao, and Group F matches the Netherlands with Japan, Tunisia, and the European Playoff B winner. Group G consists of Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand, while Group H sees Spain facing Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde.

Group I features France, Senegal, Norway, and the second FIFA Playoff winner, with Group J including Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. Group K draws Portugal alongside Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the first FIFA Playoff winner, while Group L completes the lineup with England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.

The draw reflects FIFA’s effort to balance competitive matchups with broad global representation. Top-seeded nations and hosts are distributed across the groups to avoid early clashes, while regional diversity ensures that each group offers a unique mix of playing styles and footballing traditions.

With the groups now finalized, teams and fans alike can begin analysing potential fixtures, rivalries, and paths to the knockout stages. The 2026 World Cup promises a tournament filled with excitement, underdog stories, and the global unity that has long defined football’s premier event.