The wait is finally over. With the expansion to 48 teams, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be the biggest sporting event in history. We’ve moved past the classic 32-team format, and the result is a sprawling, 104-match marathon across Mexico, Canada, and the USA.
Forget the complicated spreadsheets. If you just want to know who is playing whom so you can settle those office debates or plan your watch parties, here is the official breakdown of all 12 groups.
The Group Stage Breakdown
Group A
• Mexico 🇲🇽 (Host)
• South Korea 🇰🇷
• South Africa 🇿🇦
• Czech Republic 🇨🇿
Group B
• Canada 🇨🇦 (Host)
• Switzerland 🇨🇭
• Qatar 🇶🇦
• Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦
Group C
• Brazil 🇧🇷
• Morocco 🇲🇦
• Scotland 🏴
• Haiti 🇭🇹
Group D
• United States 🇺🇸 (Host)
• Australia 🇦🇺
• Paraguay 🇵🇾
• Türkiye 🇹🇷
Group E
• Germany 🇩🇪
• Ecuador 🇪🇨
• Ivory Coast 🇨🇮
• Curaçao 🇨🇼
Group F
• Netherlands 🇳🇱
• Japan 🇯🇵
• Tunisia 🇹🇳
• Sweden 🇸🇪
Group G
• Belgium 🇧🇪
• Iran 🇮🇷
• Egypt 🇪🇬
• New Zealand 🇳🇿
Group H
• Spain 🇪🇸
• Uruguay 🇺🇾
• Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦
• Cape Verde 🇨🇻
Group I
• France 🇫🇷
• Senegal 🇸🇳
• Norway 🇳🇴
• Iraq 🇮🇶
Group J
• Argentina 🇦🇷
• Austria 🇦🇹
• Algeria 🇩🇿
• Jordan 🇯🇴
Group K
• Portugal 🇵🇹
• Colombia 🇨🇴
• Uzbekistan 🇺🇿
• DR Congo 🇨🇩
Group L
• England 🏴
• Croatia 🇭🇷
• Panama 🇵🇦
• Ghana 🇬🇭
Three “Groups of Death” to Watch
While the expansion was supposed to “water down” the competition, the draw has thrown up some absolute nightmares:
1. Group L: England vs. Croatia is a rematch of the 2018 semi-final, with a dangerous Ghana side looking to play spoiler.
2. Group F: Japan and the Netherlands are both in high gear, and Sweden is never an easy out.
3. Group I: France and Senegal will have a massive spotlight on them, but don’t sleep on Erling Haaland leading Norway in their big return.
