FIFA World Cup 2026 draw: Argentina and Messi discover group opponents
The draw for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 was unveiled on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, officially setting the stage for the largest edition of the tournament. Hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the event promises more matches, more teams and several high-voltage group clashes.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the placement of France and Norway together in Group I, creating an early showdown between superstars Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. With Senegal also in the mix and a strong European play-off winner still to be added, the group is already being labelled one of the toughest in the competition.
Group C has produced another headline pairing as Brazil meet Morocco, last World Cup’s surprise semifinalists. Scotland and Haiti face an uphill battle in this challenging pool. England and Croatia, both regarded as strong title contenders, have landed in Group L, leaving Panama and Ghana tasked with overcoming elite opposition.
Hosts Mexico will open the tournament with a home fixture against South Africa in Group A, which also includes South Korea and the winner of the European playoff featuring Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Ireland.
Argentina, led by iconic captain Lionel Messi, will start their campaign in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria and Jordan.
Full draw:
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, European playoff winner D (Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic/Ireland)
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, European playoff winner A (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay, European playoff winner C (Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Cote d’Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European playoff winner B (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania)
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA playoff Winner (Bolivia/Suriname/Iraq)
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, FIFA playoff Winner (New Caledonia/Jamaica/Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana.
