The 2026 World Cup draw delivered high drama Friday as host nations Mexico and the United States learned their opening paths in the expanded 48-team tournament. Mexico landed in Group A with South Korea, South Africa and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff winner, while the United States drew Group D with Paraguay, Australia and another playoff entrant. Defending champion Argentina settled into Group J with Austria, Algeria and Jordan.
Mexico must wait to see which playoff nation rounds out its group, adding early intrigue to a tournament it will help host. The United States faces a challenging start as its final opponent will come from UEFA’s playoff Path C, meaning the Americans could open against a strong European side. Argentina, aiming to defend its 2022 title, opens in a group analysts immediately labeled “balanced.”
Three of the tournament’s open slots will come from the UEFA playoff, a 16-team fight featuring Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania, Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo, Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia and the Republic of Ireland.
The tournament kicks off June 11, 2026, at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, where Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match.
2026 World Cup — All 12 Groups
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, European Playoff D (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, Ireland)
Group B: Canada, European Playoff A (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia & Herzegovina), Switzerland, Qatar
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, European Playoff C (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo)
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, European Playoff B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania), Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Tournament 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq), Norway
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Tournament 1 (Jamaica, New Caledonia, DR Congo), Colombia, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
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