Mexico will open the World Cup against South Africa, while holders Argentina will face Algeria in their first game.
After weeks of a politically charged build-up to the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw and amid the presence of United States President Donald Trump, the focus swiftly shifted to football as the fate of the participating teams was unveiled at the event in Washington, DC.
President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum were all in attendance as the leaders of the three co-host nations as the US capital played host for the event at the Kennedy Center on Friday.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded the US president the new FIFA Peace Prize, having been termed the favourite to receive it in the weeks since the award’s announcement in November.
However, for the 42 qualified teams, their officials and fans, it was the latter half of the event that carried more weight as the 12 tournament groups of four teams each were drawn.
The World Cup’s first game will be a throwback to 2010 when Mexico take on South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City in a replay of the 2010 edition’s tournament opener. Football fans will hope the 2026 version’s opening goal matches the screamer scored by then-hosts South Africa’s Lawrence Tshabalala.
Mexico’s group, A – which also includes South Korea and one of Denmark, Macedonia, Czechia or Ireland – will be one of the toughest of the 12.
Team USA are placed alongside Australia, Paraguay, plus one of Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo.
Canada, too, face the challenging task of making it out of a group comprising Switzerland, Qatar and one of Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia.
The 42 confirmed nations are:
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Oceania: New Zealand
Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Curacao, Panama, Haiti, USA, Mexico, Canada
The tournament will be made up of one group-stage round and four knockout rounds before the final.
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