The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off with a high-stakes clash between host nation Mexico. and South Africa on June 11, 2026, at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This opening fixture headlines Group A, which also includes South Korea and a European playoff winne to be determined in March 2026 (from Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, or Ireland).
The draw for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2025, confirmed the full group lineup for the tournament, jointly hosted by *Mexico, the USA, and Canada.
The 48 teams were drawn into 12 groups, with host nations topping their respective groups. The pots were seeded based on the latest FIFA World Rankings to ensure balanced distribution.
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, European Playoff D
Group B: Canada, European Playoff A (Italy, N. Ireland, Wales, Bosnia), Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, European Playoff C (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo)
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, European Playoff B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania), Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq), Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, FIFA Intercontinental Playoff 1 (Jamaica, New Caledonia, DR Congo), Colombia, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with group winners and the eight best second-placed teams progressing to the knockout round. The round of 32 replaces the previous 16-team knockout format due to the expanded field.
Six final spots will be filled via playoff matches in March 2026, adding to the anticipation, with potential blockbuster matchups like Brazil vs. Morocco, England vs. Croatia, and USA vs. Australia already grabbing headlines.
- With group-stage games spread across 16 cities in North America, the 2026 World Cup promises to be the largest, most inclusive, and most logistically complex tournament in FIFA history.
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