For the first time in history, 48 teams, 12 groups, 104 matches — the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico runs from June 11 to July 19. Every spot is now confirmed. Here's the full picture.
All Groups
Group A: Mexico 🇲🇽, South Korea 🇰🇷, South Africa 🇿🇦, Czechia 🇨🇿
Group B: Canada 🇨🇦, Bosnia-Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Qatar 🇶🇦, Switzerland 🇨🇭
Group C: Brazil 🇧🇷, Morocco 🇲🇦, Haiti 🇭🇹, Scotland 🏴
Group D: USA 🇺🇸, Paraguay 🇵🇾, Australia 🇦🇺, Türkiye 🇹🇷
Group E: Germany 🇩🇪, Curaçao 🇨🇼, Côte d'Ivoire 🇨🇮, Ecuador 🇪🇨
Group F: Netherlands 🇳🇱, Sweden 🇸🇪, Japan 🇯🇵, Tunisia 🇹🇳
Group G: Belgium 🇧🇪, Egypt 🇪🇬, Iran 🇮🇷, New Zealand 🇳🇿
Group H: Spain 🇪🇸, Cape Verde 🇨🇻, Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, Uruguay 🇺🇾
Group I: France 🇫🇷, Senegal 🇸🇳, Iraq 🇮🇶, Norway 🇳🇴
Group J: Argentina 🇦🇷, Algeria 🇩🇿, Austria 🇦🇹, Jordan 🇯🇴
Group K: Portugal 🇵🇹, DR Congo 🇨🇩, Uzbekistan 🇺🇿, Colombia 🇨🇴
Group L: England 🏴, Croatia 🇭🇷, Ghana 🇬🇭, Panama 🇵🇦
Top 5 Matches You Can't Miss
1. Brazil 🇧🇷 vs Morocco 🇲🇦 (Group C) The group opener. Brazil haven't won the title since 2002. Morocco reached the semi-finals in 2022. Africa's ambition meets South America's pride.
2. England 🏴 vs Croatia 🇭🇷 (Group L) A classic rivalry. Croatia knocked England out in the 2018 semi-finals; England got their revenge at Euro 2020 with a 1-0 group-stage win. A new chapter at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on June 17.
3. France 🇫🇷 vs Norway 🇳🇴 (Group I) Mbappé versus Haaland. Two superstars face to face — one of the biggest individual matchups of the entire tournament.
4. Spain 🇪🇸 vs Uruguay 🇺🇾 (Group H) The Euro 2024 champions against two-time World Cup winners. Uruguay are always dangerous — Spain won't have it easy.
5. Germany 🇩🇪 vs Curaçao 🇨🇼 (Group E) A historic moment. Curaçao (population ~156,000) is the smallest nation ever to qualify for a World Cup. Their first match is against Germany.
Group of Death
Group L (England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama) is most frequently named as the "Group of Death." England and Croatia are both recent semi-finalists. Ghana always produce surprises.
Group K (Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan) is also brutally strong — Portugal and Colombia in the same group is a tough draw for both.
Historic Moments
* Italy missed the World Cup for a third consecutive time — Bosnia beat them 4-1 on penalties (after a 1-1 draw) in Zenica. 2018, 2022, now 2026 — Italy are the first former world champions ever to miss three straight finals.
* Bosnia-Herzegovina qualified at Italy's expense — Esmir Bajraktarević scored the decisive penalty after Haris Tabaković's 79th-minute equaliser. Bosnia's second-ever World Cup, first since 2014.
* Sweden qualified — Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) scored the winner in the 88th minute of the playoff final against Poland. Sweden 3-2 Poland in Stockholm.
* DR Congo return after 52 years — they last competed in 1974 (then known as Zaire), making them the first sub-Saharan African team ever to play at a World Cup.
* Iraq qualified for the first time since 1986 — a 40-year wait, sealed with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in Monterrey.
Dates
* Opening match: June 11 — Mexico vs South Africa, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
* Final: July 19 — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
