The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup 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
12 June 2026
Mexico vs South Africa - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (00:30)
South Korea vs UEFA Path D winner - Estadio Akron, Zapopan (07:30)
18 June 2026
UEFA Path D winner vs South Africa - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (21:30)
19 June 2026
Mexico vs South Korea - Estadio Akron, Zapopan (06:30)
25 June 2026
UEFA Path D winner vs Mexico - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (06:30)
South Africa vs South Korea - Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe (06:30)
For the first time, there is a repeat of a World Cup opener in Mexico and South Africa
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
13 June 2026
Canada vs UEFA Path A winner - BMO Field, Toronto (00:30)
14 June 2026
Qatar vs Switzerland - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (00:30)
19 June 2026
Switzerland vs UEFA Path A winner - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (00:30)
Canada vs Qatar - BC Place, Vancouver (03:30)
25 June 2026
UEFA Path A winner vs Qatar - Lumen Field, Seattle (00:30)
Switzerland vs Canada - BC Place, Vancouver (00:30)
Group C
Brazil (Pot 1 team)
Morocco (Pot 2 team)
Haiti (Pot 4 team)
Scotland (Pot 3 team)
Fixtures
14 June 2026
Brazil vs Morocco - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (03:30)
Haiti vs Scotland - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (06:30)
20 June 2026
Scotland vs Morocco - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (03:30)
Brazil vs Haiti - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (06:30)
25 June 2026
Scotland vs Brazil - Hard Rock Stadium (03:30)
Morocco vs Haiti - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (03:30)
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
13 June 2026
USA vs Paraguay - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (06:30)
14 June 2026
Australia vs UEFA Path C winner - BC Place, Vancouver (09:30)
20 June 2026
USA vs Australia - Lumen Field, Seattle (00:30)
UEFA Path C winner vs Paraguay - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (09:30)
26 June 2026
UEFA Path C winner vs USA - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (07:30)
Paraguay vs Australia - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (07:30)
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 - NRG Stadium, Houston (22:30)
15 June 2026
Ivory Coast vs Ecuador - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (04:30)
21 June 2026
Germany vs Ivory Coast - BMO Field, Toronto (01:30)
Ecuador vs Curaçao - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (05:30)
26 June 2026
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (01:30)
Ecuador vs Germany - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (01:30)
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 (01:30)
15 June 2026
UEFA Path B winner vs Tunisia - Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe (07:30)
20 June 2026
Netherlands vs UEFA Path B winner - NRG Stadium, Houston (22:30)
21 June 2026
Tunisia vs Japan - Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe (09:30)
26 June 2026
Tunisia vs Netherlands - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (04:30)
Japan vs UEFA Path B winner - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (04:30)
Group G
Belgium (Pot 1 team)
Egypt (Pot 3 team)
Iran (Pot 2 team)
New Zealand (Pot 4 team)
Fixtures
16 June 2026
Belgium vs Egypt - Lumen Field, Seattle (00:30)
Iran vs New Zealand - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (06:30)
22 June 2026
Belgium vs Iran - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (00:30)
New Zealand vs Egypt - BC Place, Vancouver (06:30)
27 June 2026
Egypt vs Iran - Lumen Field, Seattle (08:30)
New Zealand vs Belgium - BC Place, Vancouver (08:30)
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 - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (21:30)
16 June 2026
Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (03:30)
21 June 2026
Spain vs Saudi Arabia - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (21:30)
22 June 2026
Uruguay or Cape Verde - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (03:30)
27 June 2026
Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia - NRG Stadium, Houston (05:30)
Uruguay or Spain - Estadio Akron, Zapopan (05:30)
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 (00:30)
ICP Path 2 winner vs Norway - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (03:30)
22 June 2026
France vs ICP Path 2 winner - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (02:30)
Norway or Senegal - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (05:30)
26 June 2026
Senegal vs ICP Path 2 winner - BMO Field, Toronto (00:30)
Norway vs France - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (00:30)
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 (06:30)
Austria vs Jordan - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (06:30)
22 June 2026
Argentina or Austria - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (22:30)
23 June 2026
Jordan or Algeria - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (08:30)
28 June 2026
Algeria vs Austria - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (07:30)
Jordan vs Argentina - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (07:30)
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 (22:30)
18 June 2026
Uzbekistan vs Colombia - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (07:30)
23 June 2026
Portugal vs Uzbekistan - NRG Stadium, Houston (22:30)
24 June 2026
Colombia vs ICP Path 1 winner - Estadio Akron, Zapopan (07:30)
28 June 2026
ICP Path 1 winner vs Uzbekistan - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (05:00)
Colombia vs Portugal - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (05:00)
Group L
England (Pot 1 team)
Croatia (Pot 2 team)
Ghana (Pot 4 team)
Panama (Pot 3 team)
Fixtures
18 June 2026
England vs Croatia - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (01:30)
Ghana vs Panama - BMO Field, Toronto (04:30)
23 June 2026
England vs Ghana - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (01:30)
Panama vs Croatia - BMO Field, Toronto (04:30)
27 June 2026
Panama vs England - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (02:30)
Croatia vs Ghana - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (02:30)
Knockout Stage
Round of 32
29 June 2026
Runner-up Group A vs Runner-up Group B - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (00:30)
Winner Group C vs Runner-up Group F - NRG Stadium, Houston (22:30)
30 June 2026
Winner Group E vs 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (02:30)
Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group C - Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe (06:30)
Runner-up Group E vs Runner-up Group I - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (22:30)
1 July 2026
Winner Group I vs 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (02:30)
Winner Group A vs 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (06:30)
Winner Group L vs 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (21:30)
2 July 2026
Winner Group G vs 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J - Lumen Field, Seattle (01:30)
Winner Group D vs 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J - Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara (05:30)
3 July 2026
Winner Group H vs Runner-up Group J - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (00:30)
Runner-up Group K vs Runner-up Group L - BMO Field, Toronto (04:30)
Winner Group B vs 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J - BC Place, Vancouver (08:30)
Runner-up Group D vs Runner-up Group G - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (22:30)
4 July 2026
Winner Group J vs Runner-up Group H - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (03:30)
Winner Group K vs 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (07:00)
Round of 16
4 July 2026
R32 Match 1 Winner vs R32 Match 4 Winner - NRG Stadium, Houston (22:30)
5 July 2026
R32 Match 3 Winner vs R32 Match 6 Winner - Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (02:30)
6 July 2026
R32 Match 2 Winner vs R32 Match 5 Winner - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (02:30)
R32 Match 7 Winner vs R32 Match 8 Winner - Estadio Azteca, Mexico City (05:30)
7 July 2026
R32 Match 12 Winner vs R32 Match 11 Winner - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (00:30)
R32 Match 10 Winner vs R32 Match 9 Winner - Lumen Field, Seattle (05:30)
R32 Match 15 Winner vs R32 Match 14 Winner - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (21:30)
8 July 2026
R32 Match 13 Winner vs R32 Match 16 Winner - BC Place, Vancouver (01:30)
Quarterfinals
10 July 2026
R16 Match 1 Winner vs R16 Match 2 Winner - Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (01:30)
11 July 2026
R16 Match 5 Winner vs R16 Match 6 Winner - SoFi Stadium, Inglewood (00:30)
12 July 2026
R16 Match 3 Winner vs R16 Match 4 Winner - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (02:30)
R16 Match 7 Winner vs R16 Match 8 Winner - Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City (06:30)
Semifinals
15 July 2026
QF1 Winner vs QF 2 Winner - AT&T Stadium, Arlington (00:30)
16 July 2026
QF4 Winner vs QF 5 Winner - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (00:30)
Third-place
19 July 2026
Loser SF1 vs Loser SF 2 - Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens (02:30)
Final
19 July 2026
Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2 - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (00:30)
