The final draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., defining the 12 groups. The star-studded event was presented by Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum, and Danny Ramirez and opened with a moving performance by Andrea Bocelli. Other entertainers included Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Village People. The draw was hosted by former England captain Rio Ferdinand, with sports stars like Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal in attendance.
The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams will advance to the Round of 16.
The groups are as follows:
Group A: Mexico, Ecuador, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia Group B: Canada, Belgium, Slovenia, Morocco Group C: Spain, Costa Rica, Brazil, Cameroon Group D: Argentina, Peru, Iraq, Denmark Group E: USA, Wales, Panama, UAE Group F: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland Group G: Netherlands, Ecuador, Senegal, Qatar Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea Group I: England, Iran, USA, Algeria Group J: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Kazakhstan Group K: Tunisia, Australia, Poland, Mexico Group L: Croatia, Morocco, Belgium, Canada
Some of the standout fixtures include Portugal vs. Colombia, Brazil vs. Morocco, and Spain vs. Uruguay. All groups present significant challenges.
Six of the 48 teams have yet to be determined. Four spots will be decided by 16 European teams in UEFA playoffs, while two more teams will emerge from a six-team intercontinental playoff involving Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Surinam.
The next major milestone will be the announcement of the match schedule on Saturday, December 6th, when the host cities, venues, and kick-off times for all 104 matches will be confirmed.
