The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, officially dividing the record 48 participating nations into 12 groups of four — the first time the tournament will feature so many teams.
With co-host nations Mexico, Canada, and the United States already pre-assigned to groups A, B, and D, respectively, the draw proceeded in accordance with pots seeded by FIFA’s November 2025 world ranking.
This ensured a mix of top seeds, regional representation, and playoff placeholders across the groups.
Below is how the groups shape up:
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A: | Mexico; South Korea; South Africa; (UEFA Play-off D winner) |
| Group B: | Canada; Switzerland; Qatar; (UEFA Play-off A winner) |
| Group C: | Brazil; Morocco; Scotland; Haiti |
| Group D: | United States; Paraguay; Australia; (UEFA Play-off C winner) |
| Group E: | Germany; Ecuador; Ivory Coast; Curaçao |
| Group F: | Netherlands; Japan; Tunisia; (UEFA Play-off B winner) |
| Group G: | Belgium; Egypt; Iran; New Zealand |
| Group H: | Spain; Uruguay; Saudi Arabia; Cape Verde |
| Group I: | France; Senegal; Norway; (Inter-confederation Playoff 2 winner) |
| Group J: | Argentina; Algeria; Austria; Jordan |
| Group K: | Portugal; Uzbekistan; Colombia; (FIFA Play-off Tournament 1 winner) |
| Group L: | England; Croatia; Ghana; Panama |
The six yet-to-be-decided playoff spots — four via European playoffs and two via inter-confederation playoffs — will fill out the remaining placeholders.
The 2026 World Cup is the largest edition ever, with 48 teams, and its group composition reflects that expansion.
Some heavyweight confrontations are already on the cards: Brazil faces Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti in Group C, while England meets Croatia in Group L.
The format — one team from each of the four seeding pots per group — aims to balance competition fairly across confederations while still ensuring global diversity.
