The results are in! Following the draw that took place on December 5th in Washington, D.C., the 48 available slots for the tournament have now been allocated across 12 groups (A-L), offering fans an exciting taste of what's to come in the 2026 World Cup.

With so much to unpack, here is a full breakdown of each group, including a preview of what to expect in the buildup to the world’s greatest football tournament.

Whilst 42 of the teams are already confirmed, six slots listed below are yet to be filled. This will be decided via the European play-offs and the Inter-Confederation play-offs, which are set to take place in March 2026 just a couple of months before the start of the World Cup.




Here is how the groups line up:

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, European Play-Off D Winner
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, European Play-Off A Winner
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, European Play-Off C Winner
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European Play-Off B Winner
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Confederation Play-Off Winner
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Confederation Play-Off Winner
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

What makes this edition of the tournament even more exciting is a change to the format of the competition. Due to the expansion of the roster to 48 teams, 12 groups of four teams are going to be implemented. Each team will play one game against the others in their group before the knockout round kicks off. The top two teams in each group will progress directly to the knockouts as previously done. However, this time around eight of the third-best-placed teams in each group will also be given the opportunity to advance to the next stage. These chosen teams are determined by various factors such as points, goal difference, goals scored, as well as their world rankings. 

The addition of more groups and the inclusion of third-placed teams means 32 nations are set to progress from the group stage to the knockouts. A significant but welcome change from the previous edition's Round of 16.

The group stage draw has mixed traditional powerhouses with rising nations and potential underdogs, offering a blend of thrilling clashes and potential upsets. Don't miss out on the opportunity to witness what is promising to be another memorable tournament. Purchase your 2026 World Cup tickets with TicketKosta through our secure online booking system and be a part of football history in the making!