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Holders Argentina and European champions Spain have landed promising paths to the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup on Friday.
The star-studded draw ceremony in Washington doubled as a show of political theatre, with US President Donald Trump picking up FIFA’s inaugural peace prize.
The event at the Kennedy Center formally kicked off the countdown to the first-ever 48-team World Cup, six months before the tournament opens across the United States, Mexico, and Canada on 11 June.
While Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Spain emerged with relatively gentle group assignments, much-fancied France were placed in one of the tougher pools.
Argentina, who lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022, will begin the defence of their crown against Algeria, before facing Austria and tournament debutants Jordan in Group J Spain will open their Group H campaign against first-time qualifiers Cape Verde, with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia completing the section.
England, coached by Thomas Tuchel, will expect to dominate Group L, which includes 2018 finalists Croatia alongside Ghana and Panama.
France, the two-time champions, face a more exacting route. Their Group I meetings with Senegal and an Erling Haaland-led Norway promise stern tests, with the final slot in the group to be filled by the winner of an intercontinental play-off involving Iraq, Bolivia, and Suriname.
The expanded World Cup will feature 104 matches, 40 more than the 64 played in Qatar, with 16 host cities across North America.
Interestingly, the United States will stage most fixtures, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, while Mexico will host three venues and Canada two.
Meanwhile, Trump, accepting FIFA’s peace prize from president Gianni Infantino, used the moment to champion closer coordination among the co-hosts.
“It is truly one of the great honours of my life. The world is a safer place now. The United States a year ago was not going too well, but now it is the hottest country anywhere in the world,” he said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum joined him at the ceremony, where snow fell outside but star power warmed the atmosphere inside.
Performances by Robbie Williams, Andrea Bocelli, and the Village People accompanied a draw co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and comedian Kevin Hart.
Sporting icons including NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky, and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal helped conduct the draw.
Co-hosts Mexico will open the tournament against South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June, while Brazil and surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco will meet in a compelling Group C that also features Scotland and Haiti.
Germany will contend with Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curacao in Group E, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal were drawn in Group K alongside Uzbekistan, Colombia, and a play-off qualifier. The United States received a manageable Group D featuring Paraguay, Australia, and a European play-off winner.
Infantino promised the “greatest World Cup ever,” likening the scale of the expanded tournament to staging “104 Super Bowls in one month.”
Six remaining qualification places will be decided in March, with match schedules and venues to be finalised on Saturday.
2026 World Cup Groups
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, Curacao, 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.
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