Spain will share Group H with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, one of the most attractive matchups. The so-called 'Group of Death' will be Group I, led by France, alongside Senegal, Norway, and a pending spot between Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname, with three teams having serious chances of advancing. Argentina is in Group J with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, in a straightforward group and one of the most accessible of the tournament. Portugal appears in Group K and awaits New Caledonia, Jamaica, or the Democratic Republic of Congo; they will also have Uzbekistan and Colombia. The United States shares Group D with Paraguay and Australia, pending the spot between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo. Germany will have in Group E Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador, while the Netherlands and Japan head Group F, which will be completed by the winner of the playoff between Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Armenia, as well as Tunisia. Belgium is the favorite in Group G against Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand. England heads Group L with Ghana, Croatia, and Panama. This is the path of the 2026 World Cup: 2nd Group A vs. 2nd Group B; 1st Group E vs. 3rd Group A/B/C/D/F; 1st Group F vs. 2nd Group C; 1st Group C vs. 2nd Group F; 1st Group I vs. 3rd Group C/D/F/G/H; 2nd Group E vs. 2nd Group I; 1st Group A vs. 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I; 1st Group L vs. 3rd Group E/H/I/J/K; 1st Group D vs. 3rd Group B/E/F/I/J; 1st Group G vs. 3rd Group A/E/H/I/J; 2nd Group K vs. 2nd Group L; 1st Group H vs. 2nd Group J; 1st Group B vs. 3rd Group E/F/G/I/J; 1st Group J vs. 2nd Group H; 1st Group K vs. 3rd Group D/E/I/J/L; 2nd Group D vs. 2nd Group G. The groups are configured as follows: Group A: Mexico – South Africa – South Korea – North Macedonia/Denmark/Czech Republic/Ireland; Group B: Canada – Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina – Qatar – Switzerland; Group C: Brazil – Morocco – Haiti – Scotland; Group D: United States – Paraguay – Australia – Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo; Group E: Germany – Curacao – Ivory Coast – Ecuador; Group F: Netherlands – Japan – Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Armenia – Tunisia; Group G: Belgium – Egypt – Iran – New Zealand; Group H: Spain – Cape Verde – Saudi Arabia – Uruguay; Group I: France – Senegal – Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname – Norway; Group J: Argentina – Algeria – Austria – Jordan; Group K: Portugal – New Caledonia/Jamaica/Democratic Republic of Congo – Uzbekistan – Colombia; Group L: England – Ghana – Croatia – Panama. Buenos Aires, December 5 (NA) – The draw for the 2026 World Cup has defined the twelve groups of the first stage, with several strong clashes and others still open due to pending playoffs. The main bracket already marks the path of each team towards a tournament that will have an expanded format and a more extensive initial phase than in previous editions, as reported by the Argentine News Agency. In Group A, Mexico will have to handle the pressure of playing at home against South Africa and South Korea, while waiting for the winner of the playoff between North Macedonia, Denmark, the Czech Republic, or Ireland. Canada leads Group B with an uncertain scenario: its second rival will come from the playoff between Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Bosnia and Herzegovina; the group is completed by Qatar and Switzerland. Brazil leads Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland, in a zone without pending definitions from the playoff area.
