The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first to feature 48 teams — concluded today in Washington, D.C., at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, defining the 12 groups that will shape one of the most ambitious tournaments in football history. 

Hosts in the Spotlight: USA, Canada and the Group D Challenge

As co-hosts, the United States, Canada and Mexico were placed at the top of their respective groups, per tournament rules. The United States men's national soccer team finds itself in Group D, drawn alongside Australia, Paraguay, and a European playoff winner. 
Meanwhile, Canada men's national soccer team leads Group B, joined by Switzerland, Qatar and another playoff team. The format ensures each host will play their group-stage matches on home soil — a major advantage in the early stage of the tournament. 

🇪🇺 Europe’s Heavyweights: England, Spain and Others Face Varied Roads

The draw also delivered a mix of manageable groups and challenging matchups for Europe’s top nations.

• Spain national football team will compete in Group H alongside Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde. Much is expected of “La Roja,” considered among the favorites to fight for the trophy. 
• England national football team landed in Group L, where it’ll face Croatia, Ghana and Panama — a group that may allow smoother passage to the knockout stages, though nothing can be taken for granted in this expanded format. 

Other traditional European contenders — and strong mid-ranking sides — have found themselves distributed across the globe. The tournament structure, which allows up to two UEFA teams per group, ensures European depth will be felt throughout the competition. 

Depth of the Tournament: 48 Teams, 12 Groups, 104 Matches

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever held: 48 teams, 12 groups of four, and a total of 104 matches, surpassing previous editions by a wide margin. From each group, the top two teams — plus the eight best third-placed teams — will advance to a 32-team knockout round. 

The seeding rules will also prevent the current top four nations — including Spain, England, and other elite European teams — from meeting before the semifinal stage, should they advance that far.

Argentina: The Defending Champion in a Separate Path

Meanwhile, defending champion Argentina national football team ends up in Group J, on the opposite side of the draw from Spain and much of Europe’s elite — a distribution designed to spread out the tournament’s stars. Argentina will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan during the group stage.

Full Groups for the 2026 World Cup

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Playoff Winner D
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Playoff Winner A
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay, Playoff Winner C
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Playoff Winner B
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Playoff Winner 2
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Playoff Winner 1
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

What to Watch: Key Matches, Host-Team Pressure and Global Stakes

With the hosts spread across different groups and Europe’s heavyweights scattered worldwide, the 2026 World Cup promises to deliver a global spectacle:

• The U.S. and Canada will have home-field advantage for their group matches — a potential boost to soccer’s popularity in North America.
• Spain and England must navigate groups that balance challenge and opportunity; their progress could greatly influence the knockout stage draw.
• The expanded field and repechage-qualifiers mean surprises are more likely, keeping underdog stories alive until the final whistle.
• As defending champion, Argentina will try to re-assert its dominance — but in a path cleared of many of Europe’s top teams until later rounds.

As the world counts down to the kickoff on June 11, 2026, in the storied Estadio Azteca, the 2026 World Cup already promises to be a historic test of depth, ambition — and global football dreams.