2026 World Cup Draw: USA, Mexico and Canada Learn Their Paths as Full Matchups Revealed

Written by Adam Fonseca, Senior Editor

Posted on by Adam Fonseca
fifa world cup

The full draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was completed today at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., officially setting the matchups for the biggest World Cup in history. With 48 teams, 12 groups, and three host nations, the bracket is now real — and so are the storylines.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada all learned their group-stage opponents, while a brutal “Group of Death” featuring France, Senegal, and Norway immediately jumped off the page. Several spots are still reserved for playoff winners, but the framework of the tournament is locked in.

USA Drawn with Paraguay, Australia and a European Playoff Winner

The United States was placed into Group D alongside:

  • Paraguay
  • Australia
  • A European playoff winner from Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo

It’s a challenging but fair group for the U.S., with all three opponents offering different problems: South American intensity from Paraguay, tournament-tested resilience from Australia, and a tough European side coming through a high-pressure playoff.

The U.S. will play all group matches on home soil, giving them one of the strongest home-field advantages in the tournament. With the country co-hosting the event, expectations around the national team will be higher than ever.

Mexico and Canada Get Home-Friendly but Tricky Groups

As co-hosts, Mexico and Canada were both seeded and pre-assigned to groups to help with scheduling and travel:

  • Mexico tops Group A, facing South Africa, South Korea, and a European playoff winner from Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, or Ireland.
  • Canada leads Group B, where they’ll meet Switzerland, Qatar, and a European playoff winner from Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Mexico’s group blends a familiar style from South Korea with a physical South African team and a disciplined European playoff winner. Canada’s group is quietly difficult, with Switzerland’s consistency and a strong playoff nation waiting to be confirmed.

Group of Death: France, Senegal, Norway and a Tough Playoff Winner

If there is an early “Group of Death,” it’s Group I:

  • France
  • Senegal
  • Norway
  • An intercontinental playoff winner (one of Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq)

France arrive as one of the tournament favorites. Senegal are Africa’s reigning powerhouse, and Norway bring elite star power into a major tournament environment. Even before the playoff winner is known, every match in this group looks like it could decide the final standings.

Other Headline Groups and Matchups

  • Group L gives England a reunion with Croatia, along with dangerous Ghana and experienced Panama.
  • Group C pairs Brazil with Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti in a stylistically fascinating mix.
  • Group H has Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and debutants Cape Verde for a very balanced section.
  • Group K features Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and a playoff winner that could be Jamaica, New Caledonia, or DR Congo.

Several of these groups have clear favorites on paper, but the expanded format and travel demands across North America make upsets more likely than in past editions.

Tournament Format and Key Dates

The 2026 World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’s the first World Cup with:

  • 48 teams
  • 12 four-team groups
  • A 32-team knockout phase

The structure:

  • Group stage: June 11–27
  • Round of 32: June 28–July 3
  • Round of 16: July 4–7
  • Quarterfinals: July 9–11
  • Semifinals: July 14–15
  • Third-place match: July 18
  • Final: July 19

Playoff winners from UEFA and the intercontinental playoffs will be confirmed in early 2026, filling the last open spots in several groups, but their positions are already fixed in the draw.

What Today’s Draw Means for Fans and Bettors

For fans across North America, today’s draw turns a future tournament into a real set of matchups:

  • Supporters now know which cities and dates they’ll want tickets for.
  • National teams can start planning travel, training bases, and scouting.
  • Bettors and analysts can begin building real models based on group balance, travel demands, and potential knockout paths.

Visit the following links for more 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP betting options and odds:

With the groups set and the full schedule to be finalized next, the countdown to the first 48-team World Cup truly begins.

 

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