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The path to glory at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has now been laid out after the final groups were revealed during Friday’s draw ceremony in Washington.
The US President Donald Trump received FIFA’s new peace prize on stage at the Kennedy Centre before the draw for the first 48-team World Cup, which offered kind starts to the tournament for holders Argentina and much-fancied Spain in particular.
While the make-up of the groups was revealed along with the potential path through the knockout rounds for all the potential winners, the precise schedule for the competition will only be confirmed later on Saturday.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino will unveil the venues and kick-off times for all games from 1700 GMT, after which the teams will be able to focus on fine-tuning their preparations with barely six months left until the World Cup kicks off on June 11.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina will begin their defense of the trophy they won in Qatar in 2022 by facing Algeria, and will also play Austria and debutants Jordan in Group J.
Reigning European champions Spain will kick off their campaign against first-time qualifiers Cape Verde before also taking on Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
Thomas Tuchel’s England, seeking to win a first World Cup since 1966, will be expected to top Group L ahead of 2018 finalists Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
Two-time winners France face awkward tests against Senegal and Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I, which will be completed by a play-off winner from either Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname.
For the first time, the draw was done in such a way as to ensure the four highest-ranked nations were kept apart. Spain, Argentina, France and England cannot meet before the semi-finals, if all top their groups.
However, the path to that stage, with an extra knockout round now following the group phase, looks perilous.
If the top seeds all win their groups, England could find themselves playing co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City in the last 16 and then Brazil in the quarter-finals, before a semi against Argentina.
Other possible match-ups include France and Germany being on a last-16 collision course and a potential meeting between Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarter-finals.
The tournament will be held across the USA, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, with 16 more teams added to the global showpiece, up from the 32 nations involved in 2022.
While the US will host most matches, including the final at MetLife Stadium outside New York, three of the 16 venues will be in Mexico and two in Canada.
The opening game sees Mexico play South Africa at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil and surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco will meet in Group C, which also features Scotland and Haiti.
Notably, Scotland and Brazil will meet for the fifth time at a World Cup.
Germany’s opponents in Group E will be the Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Caribbean minnows Curacao, while Portugal face Uzbekistan, Colombia and a play-off winner.
The United States got a manageable draw, with Paraguay, Australia and a European play-off winner in Group D.
The top two teams in each group advance to the last 32, joined by the eight best third-placed teams.
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner of UEFA play-off D*
Group B: Canada, Winner of UEFA play-off A*, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of UEFA play-off C*
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner of UEFA play-off B*, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Winner of Fifa play-off 2*, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Winner of Fifa play-off 1*, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
*UEFA play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Northern Ireland
*UEFA play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden
*UEFA play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania
*UEFA play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland or North Macedonia
*Fifa play-off 1: DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia
*Fifa play-off 2: Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname
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