The groups for the 2026 World Cup have been finalized, along with the method for forming 12 groups in the upcoming 48-team tournament.
The draw is set for December 5th. FIFA announced that if the top four teams in the latest men’s rankings win their round-robin groups, they will not compete against each other until the semi-finals. This tournament will take place from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Currently, Spain, Argentina, France, and England hold the top four spots in the rankings. This means that defending champions Argentina, featuring Lionel Messi, and the European champions Spain, led by Lamine Yamal, will only meet in the final at MetLife Stadium near New York on July 19, if they top their groups.
FIFA stated, “Two distinct paths to the semi-finals have been created to promote competitive balance,” aiming to acknowledge teams that regularly excel and improve their world rankings.
For the tournament next summer, each group will include one team from each of four pots, with pot one containing the three host nations and the nine highest-ranked teams globally:
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, United States, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, along with European Playoffs A, B, C, D, and FIFA Playoff Tournament 1 and 2.
A total of 42 teams will be confirmed for the tournament, with the remaining six participating teams to be decided in March, based on the European and World play-off results.
The three host nations have already been placed in specified groups to ensure matches are held on their home turf. The United States will be in Group D, Canada in Group A, and Mexico in Group B.
Generally, teams from the same qualifying zone cannot be placed in the same group; for example, two South American teams (CONMEBOL) can’t share a group. However, there may be up to two UEFA teams in one group.
When and Where Will the Draw Occur?
The draw is scheduled for December 5th at 12:00 PM ET/9:00 AM PT at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and will be aired live on FOX. It will also be streamed on FOX One, FOXSports.com, and the FOX Sports app.
Are the US, Canada, and Mexico Already Assigned?
The three co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup have been assigned to their respective groups, although their opponents have yet to be determined. This allocation ensures that matches are played in their nations.
For the United States, the group stage matches will take place on June 12th (Los Angeles), June 19th (Seattle), and June 25th (Los Angeles). Canada will host games on June 12th (Toronto), June 18th (Vancouver), and June 24th (Vancouver). Mexico’s matches are scheduled for June 11th (Mexico City), June 18th (Guadalajara), and June 24th (Mexico City).
The excitement surrounding the 2026 World Cup is palpable, especially as it will be the first tournament with an expanded format. This event will not only spotlight emerging talent but also foster a deeper connection to soccer across North America, making it a landmark moment for the sport.
