Mumbai: The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — held on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. — revealed the group stage matchups for 42 confirmed nations, but full venue assignments and kickoff times will only be announced on Saturday. The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup will begin with co-host Mexico taking on South Africa in a Group A clash at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico on June 11.
It is a repeat fixture of the opening match of the 2010 World Cup. That time also South Africa was the host.
The d
raw introduced a new seeding system designed to keep the current world top four — Spain national football team, Argentina, France national football team and England national football team — in separate brackets, ensuring they cannot collide before the semi-finals.
Organizers stressed that while the groupings are now fixed, many crucial details — such as match venues and kick-off times — remain pending, subject to final adjustments once playoffs conclude in March.
Five-time champions Brazil, under a full-time foreign coach in Carlo Ancelotti for the first time in 100 years, were drawn in group C. It will open against 2022 semi-finalists Morocco.
For now, here’s the final lineup for the group stage:
Group A: Mexico; South Africa; Republic of Korea; UEFA Play-off D winner
Group B: Canada; UEFA Play-off A winner; Qatar; Switzerland
Group C: Brazil; Morocco; Haiti; Scotland
Group D: USA; Paraguay; Australia; UEFA Play-off C winner
Group E: Germany; Curacao; Côte d’Ivoire; Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands; Japan; UEFA Play-off B winner; Tunisia
Group G: Belgium; Egypt; Islamic Republic of Iran; New Zealand
Group H: Spain; Cabo Verde; Saudi Arabia; Uruguay
Group I: France; Senegal; FIFA Play-off 2 winner; Norway
Group J: Argentina; Algeria; Austria; Jordan
Group K: Portugal; FIFA Play-off 1 winner; Uzbekistan; Colombia
Group L: England; Croatia; Ghana; Panama