2026 World Cup Draw: Full groups and key matchups

2026 World Cup Draw: Full groups and key matchups

The draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Friday night, setting the stage for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

A record number of nations will compete in the expanded tournament, which kicks off on June 11, 2026. Africa’s representatives were handed tough assignments.

South Africa will open the tournament against Mexico, a rematch of the iconic 2010 World Cup opener in Johannesburg.

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Morocco, semifinalists in 2022, face a blockbuster opener against five-time champions Brazil, while Senegal take on France in a fiery replay of their famous 2002 upset.

Algeria landed in a difficult group alongside reigning champions Argentina, Austria, and Jordan. Tunisia will face the Netherlands, Japan, and one of the UEFA playoff winners (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania) as they battle for a last-32 spot.

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Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut, will be tested by a glamorous but daunting group featuring Spain, Uruguay, and Hervé Renard’s Saudi Arabia.

Ghana face European heavyweights England and Croatia, plus Panama, as they aim for their first knockout-round appearance since 2010.

The Democratic Republic of Congo must still progress through the FIFA Inter-confederation Playoff, where they will meet Jamaica and New Caledonia, to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.

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, Curaçao, 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

Head of Sports at BusinessDay Media, a seasoned Digital Content Producer, and FIFA/CAF Accredited Journalist with over a decade of sports reporting.Has a deep understanding of the Nigerian and global sports landscape and skills in delivering comprehensive and insightful sports content.

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