The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, expands to 48 teams for the first time. The FIFA World Cup 2026 groups will be finalised after the World Cup qualification process.
The 23rd edition of the World Cup kicks off on June 11, 2026, and will feature a group stage of 12 groups of four teams each. But you need to know how it works and how teams are divided into groups after the draw.
Below is everything you need to know about the group stage draw, seeding, and how the new format shapes up for fans in the USA.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups: Complete Guide to the 48-Team Finals Draw
Full list of FIFA World Cup 2026 Groups that are in the World Cup, and those will be divided into Group A – Group L after the latest round of qualifiers.
Tournament Format and Group Composition
All the FIFA World Cup 2026 groups are divided into 12 groups of 4 teams, with Mexico automatically placed in Group A, Canada in Group B, and the United States in Group D.
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups (A–L) of four teams
- The top two teams from each group advance, plus the eight best third-place finishers
- A total of 32 teams progress to the knockout stage
- Matches held across 16 host cities in three countries
Host Nation Seeding and Automatic Qualifications
- Pot 1 (Hosts):
- Canada (Group A1)
- Mexico (Group B1)
- United States (Group C1)
- Pot 1 (Top Seeds): The remaining nine highest-ranked teams in FIFA World Rankings as of March 2026 join the Hosts in Pot 1.
Qualified Teams
- Host– United States, Canada, and Mexico
- 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
- Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Seeding Pots and Draw Mechanics
In the 48-team FIFA World Cup, teams are split into four seeding pots mainly based on their FIFA World Ranking, with the host nation automatically in Pot 1.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw system is designed to keep things competitive by spreading out the strongest teams and reducing the chances of teams from the same confederation facing each other in the group stage.
- Pot 1: Three hosts + nine highest-ranked qualified teams
- Pot 2–4: Remaining teams sorted by FIFA ranking and confederation balance
- Draw rules:
- No more than two UEFA teams per group
- Teams from the same confederation (except UEFA) cannot meet in the group stage
- Hosts are pre-assigned to Groups A–C, position “1”
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (Host) | Croatia | Norway | Jordan |
| Mexico (Host) | Morocco | Panama | Cabo Verde |
| USA (Host) | Colombia | Egypt | Ghana |
| Spain | Uruguay | Algeria | Curaçao |
| Argentina | Switzerland | Scotland | Haiti |
| France | Japan | Paraguay | New Zealand |
| England | Senegal | Tunisia | European Play-off A |
| Brazil | IR Iran | Côte d’Ivoire | European Play-off B |
| Portugal | Korea Republic | Uzbekistan | European Play-off C |
| Netherlands | Ecuador | Qatar | European Play-off D |
| Belgium | Austria | Saudi Arabia | FIFA Play-off Tournament 1 |
| Germany | Australia | South Africa | FIFA Play-off Tournament 2 |
Group Stage Draw Details
- Date: December 5, 2025
- Venue: Washington, D.C.
- Broadcast: Worldwide live on FIFA platforms and major sports networks
- Procedure: Sequential drawing from Pot 1 to Pot 4, filling Groups A–L
Group Stage Match Schedule
- Matchdays: June 11–July 1, 2026
- Rest days: Two rest days between each matchday for all teams
- Fixture order:
1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 on Matchday 1
1 vs 3, 4 vs 2 on Matchday 2
4 vs 3, 1 vs 2 on Matchday 3
Actual groups will be determined at the draw on December 5.
Advancing to the Knockout Stage
- Round of 32:
- Group winners vs best third-place teams
- Group runners-up vs best third-place teams
- Bracket positioning: Ensures no repeat group opponents until later rounds
FIFA World Cup 2026 Key Dates
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Group Stage | June 11–July 1, 2026 |
| Round of 32 | July 5–6, 2026 |
| Round of 16 | July 9–10, 2026 |
| Quarterfinals | July 13–14, 2026 |
| Semifinals | July 17–18, 2026 |
| Third-Place Match | July 20, 2026 |
| Final | July 19, 2026 |
Why the 2026 Group Format Matters for USA Fans?
- More matches in U.S. venues: 11 of 16 host stadiums in the USA
- Increased ticket availability: More group stage seats at affordable prices
- Expanded global interest: High-profile matches featuring powerhouse teams
- Local engagement: Opportunities to support the U.S. Men’s and Women’s national teams