The 2026 World Cup draw is complete and every group-stage fixture have now been locked in as Fifa’s giant tournament – both in geography and the sheer volume of football – finally takes shape.
A dramatic series of Uefa play-offs saw Czech Republic, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Turkey and Sweden advance to the tournament, as four-time champions Italy once again missed out.
In the inter-continental play-offs, DR Congo and Iraq triumphed to complete the World Cup line-up
Host nation Mexico will face South Africa in the opening match in Mexico City, as the competition expands to 48 teams for the first time, divided into 12 groups of four.
The confirmed groups include: Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic; Group B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland; Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland; Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey.
Others are Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador; Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia; Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand; Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay.
Group I comprises of France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway, while Group J includes Argentina, Algeria, Austria and Jordan; Group K features Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan and Colombia; and Group L has England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
The group stage fixtures will run throughout June, with matches scheduled across major host cities including Mexico City, New York, Los Angeles, Toronto and Vancouver before the tournament advances to the knockout rounds.
Among notable early fixtures are Mexico versus South Africa on June 11, Brazil against Morocco on June 13, and England’s opening clash with Croatia on June 17.
With an expanded format and a demanding schedule, the 2026 World Cup is set to deliver a more extensive and competitive group stage than ever before.
