FULL LIST: World Cup 2026 – complete group stage draw revealed

The 12 groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, have been confirmed following Friday’s draw in Washington D.C, Sport360NG reports.

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Qualifier

Group B: Canada, Qualifier, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Qualifier

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Qualifier, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I: France, Senegal, Qualifier, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Qualifier, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

The draw sets the stage for what promises to be an expansive and historic tournament, featuring 48 teams competing across three host nations. Teams will now prepare to face both familiar rivals and debutants in a tournament that is expected to redefine the World Cup landscape.

England will begin their 2026 World Cup journey against Croatia, while Scotland face a daunting group featuring Brazil as both nations learned their paths for next summer’s expanded global showpiece.

Thomas Tuchel’s side open Group L on 17 June in either Dallas or Toronto, before further fixtures against Ghana and Panama. The match locations for all fixtures will be confirmed in a separate venue draw on Saturday.

Scotland, returning to the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998, start their Group C campaign against Haiti on 13 June in Boston or New York. Steve Clarke’s team then meet Morocco and five-time champions Brazil as they bid to reach the knockout phase.

Play-off Pathways Still Open

Wales or Northern Ireland could join hosts Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B if either comes through UEFA’s March play-offs. The Republic of Ireland, also in the play-off mix, would join a group alongside Mexico, South Africa and South Korea if they qualify.

The 48-team tournament, staged across Canada, Mexico and the United States from 11 June to 19 July, will feature 104 matches across 16 host cities.

England’s Route: Early Test Against Croatia

England’s opener comes six days after the tournament begins, followed by a 23 June meeting with Ghana in Toronto or Boston, and a final group game against Panama on 27 June in either Philadelphia or New York.

Croatia, the highest-ranked side available from pot two, present a challenging start for Tuchel’s team. The sides last met at a World Cup in the 2018 semi-finals, with Croatia progressing after extra time.

Tuchel acknowledged the scale of the task ahead. “Difficult group, difficult opener,” he told BBC Sport. “Croatia and Ghana are very experienced World Cup nations. Panama we will learn more about, but every opponent deserves full respect.”

England enter the finals after a perfect qualifying campaign, eight wins from eight, without conceding a goal.

Scotland Back on the World Stage

Scotland secured their place with dramatic late goals against Denmark in a decisive final qualifier and now face two countries they met during their 1998 campaign.

“The draw is fantastic,” Clarke said. “Facing teams from three different continents is exactly what a World Cup should feel like. We know the challenge Brazil bring, but we hope to add our own little bit of magic.”

New Format, New Seedings

FIFA has awarded special seedings to the top four nations in the world rankings, Spain, Argentina, France and England, ensuring they cannot meet before the semi-finals if all top their groups.

Should England win Group L, they would face one of the eight best-performing third-placed teams in the expanded first knockout round, and could meet the winner of Brazil’s group in the quarter-finals.

Scotland, drawn from pot three, must navigate past Brazil, ranked fifth in the world, and 11th-ranked Morocco.

Opening Match in Mexico City

Hosts Mexico will play South Africa in the opening match at Estadio Azteca. As co-hosts, Mexico, the United States and Canada have pre-determined positions guaranteeing all three will play their group fixtures on home soil.

Star-Studded Draw Ceremony

The draw in Washington DC featured a lengthy two-hour show hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, with musical performances from Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Lauryn Hill.

US President Donald Trump received FIFA’s newly introduced Peace Prize during the ceremony, an honour he described as “one of the great honours of my life.”

The draw itself was conducted by Rio Ferdinand, joined on stage by American sporting icons Tom Brady, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal, along with Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Political leaders Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum each drew their nation’s group positions.