2026 FIFA World Cup groups finalized after draw
Posted Dec 5, 2025 10:56 am.
Last Updated Dec 5, 2025 12:13 pm.
The draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is complete at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and Canada now knows who their opponents for the upcoming tournament.
A record 48 teams will take part in World Cup.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, and President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico are attending the event.
Here is the final result of the draw:
Group A – Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, UEFA Playoff D: Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, Ireland
Group B – Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A: Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C – Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D – USA, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Playoff C: Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo
Group E – Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Group F – Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B: Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania
Group G – Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H – Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I – France, Senegal, Norway, Intercontinental Playoff 2: Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname
Group J – Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K – Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Intercontinental Playoff 1: DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia
Group L – England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
FIFA awards peace prize to Trump
The 2026 World Cup draw began Friday with FIFA awarding its first peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has campaigned to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-colored trophy and a gold-colored medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise.
“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said.
Follow along for live updates on the FIFA draw here
There was a wintry feel as snow fell outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with 189 days to go before the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament, to be played in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
There were long lines outside the complex even at 7 a.m. as workers and media filed through with Secret Service agents securing the area. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney also were on hand.
A red carpet was laid outside the arts center, taken over this year by Trump and his supporters. Retired stars Tom Brady of the NFL, Shaquille O’Neal of the NBA and Wayne Gretzky of the NHL along with three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge were to assist in a ceremony run by former England captain Rio Ferdinand.
The tournament opens June 11 in Mexico City. The U.S., which reached the semifinals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and has gotten as far as the quarterfinals only one other time in 2002, starts the next day in Inglewood, California. Canada kicks off in Toronto.
All games from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., which is using 11 NFL stadiums. Sites for most games and kickoff times are to be announced Saturday.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Ronald Blum, Howard Fendrich And Noah Trister, The Associated Press
