The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 was conducted on 5th December 2026 at the John F. Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C, with the competition played in three nations for the first time in the USA, Canada and Mexico. For the first time in history, the global showpiece will be contested by 48 teams, an expansion from the previous 32 teams, with 42 teams securing qualification to the finals at the time of the draw. The remaining six teams will join via the playoffs, with two teams coming from the inter-confederation playoffs and four from the UEFA playoffs, scheduled for March 2026. The teams are divided into an unprecedented 12 groups drawn from four pots, each containing 12 teams, with one team selected from each pot to form a group. The hosts are drawn into Pot 1 alongside the top nine-ranked qualified teams in the FIFA rankings, followed by the next best-ranked teams qualified for the tournament in Pot 2, Pot 3 and Pot 4. The latter also contains the places for the six playoff teams, irrespective of their FIFA rankings.
The draw will start with Pot 1, where the host takes the top position in each group, i.e Mexico in A1, Canada in B1 and the USA in D1. Two teams from the safe confederation cannot be drawn against each other, except UEFA, for which there must be at least one but no more than two teams in each group. The constraints also apply to teams that are advancing through the inter-confederation playoffs. For the first time in World Cup draw history, there will be pathways, with FIFA announcing there will be two, with the top four-ranked teams, namely Spain, Argentina, France and England, to be drawn in the opposite side of the knockout bracket to ensure competitive balance. This means top-ranked Spain could not meet second-ranked Argentina until the final of the competition, should they win their groups and so do France and England, while all four could not face each other until the semifinals. Each team's group position will be determined according to a predefined allocation pattern, even for unseeded teams, unlike the previous editions.
The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will qualify for a new knockout stage, the Round of 32, followed by the Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and the final itself. The largest and longest Men’s World Cup in the competition's history will kick off on 11 June 2026 with Mexico playing the opening game in Mexico City. El Tri will have two more venues in the overall 16, two in Canada, with the USA hosting the majority of the games in 11 stadiums. Estadio Azteca is the only stadium in this tournament that was used in the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, while none of the stadiums used in the 1994 edition hosted by the USA have been selected as a venue. The latter will also host the final in MetLife Stadium, located in New Jersey, on 19 July 2026. The total number of games played will increase from 64 to 104, with the competition lasting 39 days, an increase from 32 days in the previous two editions. Argentina are the defending champion after winning their third crown in Qatar in 2022.
Here is the result of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw:
Group Stage
Group A
Mexico (Pot 1 team, Host)
South Africa (Pot 3 team)
South Korea (Pot 2 team)
UEFA Path D winner - Czech Republic/Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia (Pot 4 team)
Fixtures
11 June 2026
Mexico vs South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
South Korea vs UEFA Path D winner - Estadio Akron, Zapopan
18 June 2026
UEFA Path D winner vs South Africa - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Mexico vs South Korea - Estadio Akron, Zapopan
24 June 2026
UEFA Path D winner vs Mexico - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
South Africa vs South Korea - Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
Group B
Canada (Pot 1 team, Host)
UEFA Path A winner - Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina/Italy/Northern Ireland (Pot 4 team)
Qatar (Pot 3 team)
Switzerland (Pot 2 team)
Fixtures
12 June 2026
Canada vs UEFA Path A winner - BMO Field, Toronto
13 June 2026
Qatar vs Switzerland - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
18 June 2026
Switzerland vs UEFA Path A winner - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Canada vs Qatar - BC Place, Vancouver
24 June 2026
Switzerland vs Canada - BC Place, Vancouver
UEFA Path A winner vs Qatar - Lumen Field, Seattle
Group C
Brazil (Pot 1 team)
Morocco (Pot 2 team)
Haiti (Pot 4 team)
Scotland (Pot 3 team)
Fixtures
13 June 2026
Brazil vs Morocco - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough or MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Haiti vs Scotland - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough or MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
19 June 2026
Brazil vs Haiti - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia or Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Scotland vs Morocco - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia or Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
24 June 2026
Scotland vs Brazil - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Morocco vs Haiti - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Group D
USA (Pot 1 team, Host)
Paraguay (Pot 3 team)
Australia (Pot 2 team)
UEFA Playoff C Winner - Slovakia/Kosovo/Turkey/Romania (Pot 4 team)
Fixtures
12 June 2026
USA vs Paraguay - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
13 June 2026
Australia vs UEFA Path C winner - BC Place, Vancouver
19 June 2026
UEFA Path C winner vs Paraguay - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
USA vs Australia - Lumen Field, Seattle
25 June 2026
UEFA Path C winner vs USA - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Paraguay vs Australia - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Group E
Germany (Pot 1 team)
Curacao (Pot 4 team)
Ivory Coast (Pot 3 team)
Ecuador (Pot 2 team)
Fixtures
14 June 2026
Germany vs Curaçao - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia or NRG Stadium, Houston
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia or NRG Stadium, Houston
20 June 2026
Germany vs Ivory Coast - BMO Field, Toronto or Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Ecuador vs Curaçao - BMO Field, Toronto or Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
25 June 2026
Ecuador vs Germany - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia or MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia or MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Group F
Netherlands (Pot 1 team)
Japan (Pot 2 team)
UEFA Playoff B Winner - Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania (Pot 4 team)
Tunisia (Pot 3 team)
Fixtures
14 June 2026
Netherlands vs Japan - AT&T Stadium, Arlington or Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
UEFA Path B winner vs Tunisia - AT&T Stadium, Arlington or Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
20 June 2026
Netherlands vs UEFA Path B winner - NRG Stadium, Houston
Tunisia vs Japan - Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
25 June 2026
Tunisia vs Netherlands - AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Japan vs UEFA Path B winner - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Group G
Belgium (Pot 1 team)
Egypt (Pot 3 team)
Iran (Pot 2 team)
New Zealand (Pot 4 team)
Fixtures
15 June 2026
Belgium vs Egypt - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood or Lumen Field, Seattle
Iran vs New Zealand - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood or Lumen Field, Seattle
21 June 2026
Belgium vs Iran - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood or BC Place, Vancouver
New Zealand vs Egypt - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood or BC Place, Vancouver
26 June 2026
New Zealand vs Belgium - Lumen Field, Seattle or BC Place, Vancouver
Egypt vs Iran - Lumen Field, Seattle or BC Place, Vancouver
Group H
Spain (Pot 1 team)
Cape Verde (Pot 4 team)
Saudi Arabia (Pot 3 team)
Uruguay (Pot 2 team)
Fixtures
15 June 2026
Spain vs Cape Verde - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
21 June 2026
Spain vs Saudi Arabia - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Uruguay or Cape Verde - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
26 June 2026
Uruguay or Spain - NRG Stadium, Houston or Estadio Akron, Zapopan
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - NRG Stadium, Houston or Estadio Akron, Zapopan
Group I
France (Pot 1 team)
Senegal (Pot 2 team)
Inter-Confederation Playoff 2 Winner - Bolivia/Suriname/Iraq (Pot 4 team)
Norway (Pot 3 team)
Fixtures
16 June 2026
France vs Senegal - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford or Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
ICP Path 2 winner vs Norway - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford or Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
22 June 2026
France vs ICP Path 2 winner - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford or Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Norway or Senegal - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford or Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
26 June 2026
Norway vs France - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough or BMO Field, Toronto
Senegal vs ICP Path 2 winner - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough or BMO Field, Toronto
Group J
Argentina (Pot 1 team)
Algeria (Pot 3 team)
Austria (Pot 2 team)
Jordan (Pot 4 team)
Fixtures
16 June 2026
Argentina vs Algeria - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City or Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Austria vs Jordan - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City or Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
22 June 2026
Argentina or Austria - AT&T Stadium, Arlington or Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Jordan or Algeria - AT&T Stadium, Arlington or Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
27 June 2026
Jordan vs Argentina - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City or AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Algeria vs Austria - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City or AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Group K
Portugal (Pot 1 team)
Inter-Confederation Playoff 1 Winner - New Caledonia/Jamaica/DR Congo (Pot 4 team)
Uzbekistan (Pot 3 team)
Colombia (Pot 2 team)
Fixtures
17 June 2026
Portugal vs ICP Path 1 winner - NRG Stadium, Houston or Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Uzbekistan vs Colombia - NRG Stadium, Houston or Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
23 June 2026
Portugal vs Uzbekistan - NRG Stadium, Houston or Estadio Akron, Zapopan
Colombia vs ICP Path 1 winner - NRG Stadium, Houston or Estadio Akron, Zapopan
27 June 2026
Colombia vs Portugal - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
ICP Path 1 winner vs Uzbekistan - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens or Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Group L
England (Pot 1 team)
Croatia (Pot 2 team)
Ghana (Pot 4 team)
Panama (Pot 3 team)
Fixtures
17 June 2026
England vs Croatia - BMO Field, Toronto or AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Ghana vs Panama - BMO Field, Toronto or AT&T Stadium, Arlington
23 June 2026
England vs Ghana - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough or BMO Field, Toronto
Panama vs Croatia - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough or BMO Field, Toronto
27 June 2026
Panama vs England - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford or Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Croatia vs Ghana - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford or Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Knockout Stage
Round of 32
28 June 2026
Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group B - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
29 June 2026
Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group C - Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe
Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group F - NRG Stadium, Houston
30 June 2026
Winner Group I vs 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Runner-up Group E vs Runner-up Group I - AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
1 July 2026
Winner Group L vs 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
Winner Group G vs 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J - Lumen Field, Seattle
2 July 2026
Runner-up Group K vs Runner-up Group L - BMO Field, Toronto
Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Winner Group B vs 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J - BC Place, Vancouver
3 July 2026
Winner Group J vs Runner-up Group H - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Winner Group K vs 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group G - AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Round of 16
4 July 2026
R32 Match 2 Winner vs R32 Match 5 Winner - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
R32 Match 1 Winner vs R32 Match 3 Winner - NRG Stadium, Houston
5 July 2026
R32 Match 4 Winner vs R32 Match 6 Winner - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
R32 Match 7 Winner vs R32 Match 8 Winner - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
6 July 2026
R32 Match 11 Winner vs R32 Match 12 Winner - AT&T Stadium, Arlington
R32 Match 9 Winner vs R32 Match 10 Winner - Lumen Field, Seattle
7 July 2026
R32 Match 14 Winner vs R32 Match 16 Winner - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
R32 Match 13 Winner vs R32 Match 15 Winner - BC Place, Vancouver
Quarterfinals
9 July 2026
R16 Match 1 Winner vs R16 Match 2 Winner - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
10 July 2026
R16 Match 5 Winner vs R16 Match 6 Winner - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
11 July 2026
R16 Match 3 Winner vs R16 Match 4 Winner - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
R16 Match 7 Winner vs R16 Match 8 Winner - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Semifinals
14 July 2026
QF1 Winner vs QF 2 Winner - AT&T Stadium, Arlington
QF4 Winner vs QF 5 Winner - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Third-place
18 July 2026
Loser SF1 vs Loser SF 2 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens
Final
19 July 2026
Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2 - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
