The stage is set for a thrilling FIFA World Cup 2026 as the official group draw has been announced. This tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The draw ceremony, held in Washington, D.C., placed the three host nations in Groups A, B, and D. Each group includes a mix of top-ranked teams and rising football nations, making for an exciting and unpredictable start to the tournament. The path to the final is now clear, with the championship match set for 19 July 2026 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA. Fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the kickoff of this historic event! The Junior Age has all the details below!
Here’s everything you need to know about the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw:
Which teams are in the FIFA WC 2026?
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Oceania: New Zealand
Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Curacao, Panama, Haiti, USA, Mexico, Canada
What are the groups for the FIFA World Cup 2026?
| Group | Teams |
| A | Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, European Playoff D Winner |
| B | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, European Playoff A Winner |
| C | Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland |
| D | United States, Paraguay, Australia, European Playoff C Winner |
| E | Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador |
| F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European Playoff B Winner |
| G | Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand |
| H | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde |
| I | France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Playoff 2 Winner |
| J | Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan |
| K | Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, FIFA Playoff 1 Winner |
| L | England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana |
What Is a FIFA World Cup Draw?
A FIFA World Cup draw is the special event where teams are randomly placed into groups to decide who plays against whom in the tournament.
What’s the format of the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The tournament will be made up of one group-stage round and four knockout rounds before the final.
Unlike previous editions, the knockouts will begin with the round of 32, followed by the round of 16, the four quarterfinals and two semifinals.
How will teams proceed from group stage to round of 32?
All four teams in each of the 12 groups will play each other once. At the end of the 68 group-stage matches, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will qualify for the round of 32 and will be joined by the eight best third-place finishers.
When will all the teams for the FIFA World Cup 2026 be confirmed?
With the European qualification rounds stretching to March and the intercontinental playoff final also scheduled for the same month, we will not know our final 48 teams for the World Cup until March 31, 2026.
Fun Fact:
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 104 matches – the highest number in the tournament’s history!
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