World Cup 2026 Groups
The 2026 FIFA World Cup features 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. The group draw took place on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., setting the stage for the biggest World Cup in history.
The group stage runs from June 11 to June 29, 2026, with 72 matches played across all 16 venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Each team plays three group matches.
The top two teams from each group advance automatically to the Round of 32. They're joined by the eight best third-placed teams — meaning 32 of 48 teams progress from the group stage. This is the most open qualification pathway in World Cup history.
All 12 groups at a glance
| Group | Team 1 (Pot 1) | Team 2 (Pot 2) | Team 3 (Pot 3) | Team 4 (Pot 4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group A |  Mexico |  South Korea |  South Africa |  Czech Republic |
| Group B |  Canada |  Switzerland |  Qatar |  Bosnia |
| Group C |  Brazil |  Morocco |  Haiti |  Scotland |
| Group D |  United States |  Paraguay |  Australia |  Turkey |
| Group E |  Germany |  Ecuador |  Côte d'Ivoire |  Curaçao |
| Group F |  Netherlands |  Japan |  Tunisia |  Sweden |
| Group G |  Belgium |  Egypt |  Iran |  New Zealand |
| Group H |  Spain |  Uruguay |  Saudi Arabia |  Cabo Verde |
| Group I |  France |  Senegal |  Norway |  Iraq |
| Group J |  Argentina |  Algeria |  Austria |  Jordan |
| Group K |  Portugal |  Colombia |  Uzbekistan |  DR Congo |
| Group L |  England |  Croatia |  Ghana |  Panama |
All 48 teams are now confirmed. UEFA Playoff winners: Path A — Bosnia · Path B — Sweden · Path C — Turkey · Path D — Czech Republic. IC Playoff winners: Path 1 — DR Congo · Path 2 — Iraq.
How the World Cup 2026 group stage works
Group stage structure
Each of the 12 groups contains four teams. Every team plays three matches — one against each opponent in their group. That makes 6 matches per group and 72 group stage matches in total.
Teams earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
Who advances?
The top two teams in each group (24 teams total) qualify directly for the Round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams out of 12 also advance. That means 32 of 48 teams make it out of the group stage — the most forgiving pathway in World Cup history. Only the bottom-placed team in each group and the four worst third-placed teams are eliminated.
Third-place ranking
All 12 third-placed teams are ranked against each other using the following criteria (in order):
- Points
- Goal difference
- Goals scored
- Team conduct score (fair play)
- FIFA World Ranking
The top 8 of those 12 third-placed teams join the Round of 32.
Group stage tiebreakers
If two or more teams in the same group are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order to determine final standings:
- Goal difference (all group matches)
- Goals scored (all group matches)
- Points in head-to-head matches between tied teams
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches
- Fair play points (yellow/red card deductions)
- Drawing of lots by FIFA
What comes after the group stage?
The 32 qualifying teams enter a single-elimination knockout bracket: Round of 32 → Round of 16 → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Final. There are no replays — drawn matches go straight to extra time and penalties.
Groups of death — the toughest groups at the 2026 World Cup
The expanded 48-team format has diluted the traditional "group of death" concept — with 32 of 48 teams advancing, even finishing third often means survival. But some groups still stand out for their competitive balance and star power.
Group I — The consensus group of death
France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
The most dangerous group by virtually every measure. France are two-time finalists (2018 champions, 2022 runners-up) led by Kylian Mbappé. Norway bring Erling Haaland — 16 goals in 8 qualifiers — in what is their first World Cup since 1998. Senegal smashed through CAF qualifying with 22 goals scored and just 3 conceded. The Mbappé vs Haaland showdown on June 25 in Boston is the single most anticipated group stage match. Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986, adding Asian grit to an already loaded group. Any of the top three could realistically win this group.
Group C — The dark horse group
Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
On paper, Brazil should cruise — but their worst-ever qualifying campaign (5th in CONMEBOL, W8 D4 L6) raises serious questions. Morocco are 2022 semifinalists and beat Brazil 2-1 in their last meeting. Scotland are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and topped their UEFA qualifying group. Haiti are debutants and heavy underdogs, but the other three teams create a genuinely compelling race for the top two spots. Brazil vs Morocco on June 13 at MetLife Stadium is a blockbuster opener.
Group L — The revenge group
England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
England and Croatia have unfinished World Cup business — Croatia knocked England out in the 2018 semifinals. This is likely Luka Modrić's final tournament at age 40, facing Jude Bellingham's generation. Ghana and Panama won't roll over either. FOX Sports analysts named Group L as the tournament's true Group of Death for its top-to-bottom competitiveness.
Group H — The heavyweight group
Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
World #1 Spain against two-time champions Uruguay is the group's marquee clash. The Spain vs Uruguay match on June 26 in Guadalajara could decide who tops the group. Saudi Arabia will hope to recreate their stunning 2022 upset over Argentina. Cabo Verde are World Cup debutants but topped their CAF qualifying group ahead of Cameroon.
Group F — The sleeper group
Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Sweden
Statistically the toughest group by average FIFA ranking. Netherlands and Japan are both top-20 sides, Sweden bring 12 World Cup appearances worth of experience, and Tunisia are a tough African qualifier. No easy games — any of the four teams could finish in any position.
Host nation groups
All three co-hosts — Mexico, Canada and the United States — qualified automatically and were placed into predetermined group slots. Each host will play all three of their group stage matches within their own country.
Group A — Mexico
Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Czech Republic
Mexico open the entire tournament on June 11 against South Africa at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City — echoing the 2010 World Cup opening match between the same two teams. All Group A matches are played in Mexico (Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey) plus one match in Atlanta. Mexico are favourites to top the group, with South Korea (led by Son Heung-min) the main challenger. Czech Republic add European quality to the group.
Group B — Canada
Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia
Canada have a manageable draw on paper — Bosnia qualified through the playoff and add European pedigree to the group. Canada play all three matches on home soil: opening in Toronto (BMO Field) then moving to Vancouver (BC Place). Switzerland are the likely group favourites, while Qatar bring 2022 hosting experience but struggled in that tournament. This group could hinge entirely on how Bosnia perform against the established teams.
Group D — United States
United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
The USA drew what is widely considered the softest group among the three hosts. No top-10 ranked opponent, and arguably the easiest UEFA playoff path (Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, or Romania). Under Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT play on the West Coast: opening against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (June 12), then Seattle and back to LA. Paraguay and Australia are competitive but beatable. The USA should be targeting a group-stage clean sweep and a strong knockout seed.
Group composition by confederation
FIFA's draw rules ensured no group has more than two UEFA (European) teams, while all other confederations have at most one team per group. Here's how the confederations are distributed across the 12 groups.
Groups with two European teams
| Group | UEFA Team 1 | UEFA Team 2 | Other Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group H | Spain | (none confirmed — could get UEFA via IC playoff) | Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde |
| Group J | Austria | (Argentina group — no second UEFA) | Argentina, Algeria, Jordan |
| Group L | England | Croatia | Ghana, Panama |
Group L is the only confirmed group with two European teams (England and Croatia). Groups A, B, D, and F will each gain a second European team once the UEFA playoffs are decided in March.
Most geographically diverse groups
Group G (Belgium/Europe, Egypt/Africa, Iran/Asia, New Zealand/Oceania) features teams from four different confederations across four continents — the most geographically diverse group at the tournament. Group E (Germany/Europe, Ecuador/South America, Côte d'Ivoire/Africa, Curaçao/CONCACAF) also spans four confederations.
Groups with the most African representation
With 9 African nations qualifying — the most ever — CAF teams are spread across 9 different groups. No group has two African teams. Morocco (Group C), Senegal (Group I) and Egypt (Group G) are the highest-ranked African sides.
Key group stage dates
| Date | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| June 11 | Group stage begins | Matchday 1 kicks off with Mexico vs South Africa (Group A) at Estadio Azteca. South Korea vs Czech Republic follows that evening in Guadalajara. |
| June 12 | Host openers | Canada vs Bosnia in Toronto (Group B). USA vs Paraguay in Los Angeles (Group D). |
| June 11–17 | Matchday 1 | All 24 first-round matches across the 12 groups. Every team plays their opening match. |
| June 18–23 | Matchday 2 | All 24 second-round matches. Group standings begin to take shape. |
| June 24–29 | Matchday 3 | All 24 final group matches. Simultaneous kickoffs for final-day matches in each group to prevent collusion. |
| June 28 | Round of 32 begins | First knockout matches start while the final group games are still being completed. |
| June 29 | Group stage ends | Last group matches played. All 32 knockout qualifiers confirmed. |
During the group stage, there are matches every day — typically 4 to 6 per day spread across multiple venues and time zones.
6 spots still undecided — playoff explainer
Six of the 48 World Cup spots will be filled in March 2026 through two separate playoff tournaments. Four spots come from UEFA (European) playoffs, and two from intercontinental playoffs held in Mexico.
UEFA playoffs (4 spots) — March 26–31, 2026
Sixteen European nations that finished as runners-up in their qualifying groups compete across four single-elimination paths. Each path has two semifinals and a final, producing one World Cup qualifier per path.
| Path | Semifinal 1 | Semifinal 2 | Winner Goes To |
|---|---|---|---|
| Path A | Italy vs Northern Ireland | Wales vs Bosnia | Group B |
| Path B | Ukraine vs Sweden | Poland vs Albania | Group F |
| Path C | Slovakia vs Kosovo | Turkey vs Romania | Group D |
| Path D | Czechia vs Republic of Ireland | Denmark vs North Macedonia | Group A |
Intercontinental playoffs (2 spots) — March 2026, Mexico
Six teams from five confederations compete in a mini-tournament held in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico. The two seeded teams enter in the second round.
| Playoff | Winner | Group |
|---|---|---|
| IC Playoff 1 | DR Congo (CAF) — beat Jamaica and New Caledonia | Group K |
| IC Playoff 2 | Iraq (AFC) — beat Bolivia and Suriname | Group I |
All 48 teams confirmed
All playoff spots have been decided. The 48-team field is now complete, with every group fully confirmed.
Why this matters
The playoff results significantly changed the difficulty of certain groups. Iraq's arrival makes Group I (France, Senegal, Norway) even more intriguing, while DR Congo add African quality to Group K alongside Portugal and Colombia.
Ranking of third-placed teams
The eight best third-placed teams from the 12 groups advance to the Round of 32. Rankings are determined by points, then goal difference, then goals scored.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form | xG | Poss% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |
| TBD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – |