The path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy became a lot clearer on Friday. FIFA revealed the group drawings on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The 48-team tournament is expected to be the largest in the competition’s history, and it will be the first time it’s held in three countries, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting games. The following groups are expected to participate in this summer’s World Cup: Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, UEFA Play-off D Winner Group B: Canada, European Play-off A Winner, Qatar, Switzerland Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Play-off C winner Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Play-off B winner, TunisiaGroup G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Play-off 2 Winner, Norway Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, JordanGroup K: Portugal, FIFA Play-off 1 Winner, Uzbekistan, Colombia Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama42 of those 48 teams have qualified, with the final qualifying games scheduled for early 2026 via a respective play-off, which will determine the remaining countries. Mexico is scheduled to kick off the tournament against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on June 11. The U.S. and Canada will open its World Cup run against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12. Canada will also start its run against against a European play-off winner at BMO Stadium in Toronto, also on June 12. The Americans were grouped with Paraguay, Australia and the winner of the UEFA playoff winner between Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye, and Romania. On June 19, the U.S. will take on Australia in Seattle before closing out group play on June 25 in Los Angeles against the UEFA Play-off C winner. The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. What’s next? An updated match schedule for the tournament is expected to be unveiled by FIFA on Saturday in a live broadcast beginning at noon ET on FIFA.com. FIFA said nearly 2 million of the 6 million tickets available for this summer’s tournament have been sold so far. A third window for an early ticket draw is slated to open on Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET. and closing on Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. ET. Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage on X and Instagram.
The path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy became a lot clearer on Friday.
FIFA revealed the group drawings on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The 48-team tournament is expected to be the largest in the competition’s history, and it will be the first time it’s held in three countries, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting games.
The following groups are expected to participate in this summer’s World Cup:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, UEFA Play-off D Winner
Group B: Canada, European Play-off A Winner, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Play-off C winner
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Play-off B winner, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Play-off 2 Winner, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, FIFA Play-off 1 Winner, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
42 of those 48 teams have qualified, with the final qualifying games scheduled for early 2026 via a respective play-off, which will determine the remaining countries.
Mexico is scheduled to kick off the tournament against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on June 11.
The U.S. and Canada will open its World Cup run against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12. Canada will also start its run against against a European play-off winner at BMO Stadium in Toronto, also on June 12.
The Americans were grouped with Paraguay, Australia and the winner of the UEFA playoff winner between Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye, and Romania.
On June 19, the U.S. will take on Australia in Seattle before closing out group play on June 25 in Los Angeles against the UEFA Play-off C winner.
The final is set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
What’s next?
An updated match schedule for the tournament is expected to be unveiled by FIFA on Saturday in a live broadcast beginning at noon ET on FIFA.com.
FIFA said nearly 2 million of the 6 million tickets available for this summer’s tournament have been sold so far.
A third window for an early ticket draw is slated to open on Dec. 11 at 11 a.m. ET. and closing on Jan. 13 at 11 a.m. ET.
Mike Gramajo is an Assignment Editor and Sportswriter at WESH 2, who has covered the Orlando soccer scene since 2012. You can follow his coverage on X and Instagram.