FIFA 2026 World Cup: 12 Groups Take Shape for Opening Round in June

There are 48 teams playing in the tournament, an increase from 32.

Colombia's Luis Diaz celebrates scoring his side's second goal against Chile during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match at the Metropolitano Roberto Melendez stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia, on Oct. 15, 2024. Fernando Vergara/AP Photo

WASHINGTON—Following a lot of suspense, the groups and opening matchups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are set.

Argentina will look to defend its title as world champ. Haiti qualified for the first time in 52 years.

There was a drawing at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Dec. 5 that featured NFL icon Tom Brady, NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O'Neal, New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky mixing up little shells and twisting them, revealing countries that were put into groups for pool play that will lead to bracket matchups.

President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney ceremoniously drew their own country’s name out of a ball, and their countries were placed in separate groups, presumably so that the host countries do not eliminate each other in the early rounds.

There are 48 teams playing in the tournament, an increase from 32. FIFA increased the number of teams to be “more inclusive,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“We are in the 21st century and we have to shape the World Cup of the 21st century,” he said at a press conference after the announcement of the expansion in 2017.

“It is the future. Football is more than just Europe and South America, football is global,” continued Infantino. “The football fever you have in a country that qualifies for the World Cup is the biggest promotional tool for football you can have. This football promotion, in many parts of the world where today they have no chance to play [at the World Cup], was at the top of our thoughts.”

Here are the groups and first matchups in the World Cup, which will be played from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This is the first World Cup hosted by multiple countries. The dates and times for the games have not yet been set.

Group A

Mexico vs. South Africa

South Korea vs. Playoff D Winner (Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, or North Macedonia)

Group B

Canada vs. Playoff A Winner (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina)

Qatar vs. Switzerland

Group C

Brazil vs. Morocco

Haiti vs. Scotland

Group D

United States vs. Paraguay

Australia vs. Playoff C Winner (Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, or Romania)

Group E

Germany vs. Curacao

Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador

Group F

Netherlands vs. Japan

Tunisia vs. Playoff B Winner (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania)

Group G

Belgium vs. Egypt

Iran vs. New Zealand

Group H

Spain vs. Cabo Verde

Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay

Group I

France vs. Senegal

Norway vs. Playoff 2 Winner (Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq)

Group J

Argentina vs. Algeria

Austria vs. Jordan

Group K

Portugal vs. Playoff 1 Winner (Jamaica, New Caledonia, or Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Uzbekistan vs. Colombia

Group L

England vs. Croatia

Ghana vs. Panama