2026 FIFA World Cup: Complete Group-by-Group Guide
The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. This tournament marks a historic expansion from 32 to 48 teams, with matches taking place across 16 cities from June 11 to July 19. Below is a detailed breakdown of all participating teams, their qualification paths, and key players to watch.
Group A
Mexico becomes a three-time World Cup host and automatically qualified. They will play the opening match against South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium, replicating the 2010 tournament opener. Coach Javier Aguirre balances youth and experience, featuring Fulham striker Raul Jimenez, veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, and 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora, the tournament's youngest player. Ochoa will tie the record for most World Cup appearances (six) alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
South Africa returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2010 after a 3-0 victory over Rwanda in October 2025, despite a three-point deduction for fielding an ineligible player. This is their fourth World Cup appearance, and they have yet to advance past the group stage. Key player Relebohile Mofokeng, an Orlando Pirates winger, is one of the most exciting young talents.
South Korea secured their 11th consecutive World Cup berth after topping their qualifying group with a comfortable six-point lead over Jordan. Their best result was fourth place as co-hosts in 2002. Key players include Paris Saint-Germain's Kang-in Lee and former Tottenham captain Heung-Min Son.
Czech Republic qualified through dramatic penalty shootouts against Ireland and Denmark after finishing second in their group behind Croatia. Their only previous World Cup appearance since splitting from Slovakia was in 2006, where they failed to advance past the group stage. Key players include Leverkusen's Patrik Schick, West Ham's Tomas Soucek, and Lyon's Pavel Sulc.
Group A Fixtures: Mexico vs South Africa (June 11, 1500 ET), South Korea vs Czech Republic (June 11, 2200 ET), Czech Republic vs South Africa (June 18, 1200 ET), Mexico vs South Korea (June 18, 2100 ET), Czech Republic vs Mexico (June 24, 2100 ET), South Africa vs South Korea (June 24, 2100 ET).
Group B
Canada qualified as hosts for their third World Cup, having never won a match in previous appearances (1986, 2022). This is considered their strongest squad ever, led by Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies (recovering from a hamstring injury) and Juventus striker Jonathan David. They aim for their first World Cup victory and potentially a spot in the knockout stage.
Bosnia and Herzegovina clinched their spot with a penalty shootout win over four-time champions Italy on March 31. Veteran striker Edin Dzeko, 40, is their most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, appearing in his second World Cup. Coach Sergej Barbarez blends experience with youth, including center-back Tarik Muharemovic and wingers Kerim Alajbegovic and Esmir Bajraktarevic.
Qatar qualified through Asian qualifying, marking their first appearance via qualification after debuting as hosts in 2022. Coach Julen Lopetegui, appointed in 2025, has focused on building balance. Captain Hassan Al-Haydos and striker Almoez Ali lead the squad, which includes core players from the 2022 campaign where they finished bottom without a point.
Switzerland topped their qualifying group for their sixth consecutive World Cup, building on a quarter-final run at Euro 2024. Coach Murat Yakin relies on captain Granit Xhaka, Remo Freuler, and forward Breel Embolo, the team's top scorer in qualifying. Key players also include Dan Ndoye and Noah Okafor. Switzerland exited in the round of 16 in 2022.
Group B Fixtures: Canada vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 12, 1500 ET), Qatar vs Switzerland (June 13, 1500 ET), Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (June 18, 1500 ET), Canada vs Qatar (June 18, 1800 ET), Switzerland vs Canada (June 24, 1500 ET), Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Qatar (June 24, 1500 ET).
Group C
Brazil is the most decorated nation with five World Cup titles, but their last triumph came nearly 25 years ago. Coach Carlo Ancelotti's side is ranked below Argentina and top European rivals after an underwhelming qualifying campaign. The star-studded frontline features Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Barcelona's Raphinha. They open against Morocco on June 13.
Morocco cruised through qualifying with maximum points and are the highest-ranked African team after their semi-final run in 2022. They lost a tense Afcon final to Senegal but were later awarded the title. Captain Achraf Hakimi of Paris Saint-Germain leads the team.
Haiti returns to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 and enters as underdogs, ranked second-lowest by FIFA ahead of New Zealand. Coach Sebastien Migne has never entered Haiti due to instability, and star player Duckens Nazon faced a turbulent buildup after being held in Iran following the outbreak of war.
Scotland returns to the World Cup for the first time this century, led by coach Steve Clarke. Key players include full-back Andy Robertson (Liverpool) and Napoli's Scott McTominay, whose overhead kick against Denmark secured qualification. Progression looks tough against Brazil and Morocco, but a third-place finish could be enough.
Group C Fixtures: Brazil vs Morocco (June 13, 1800 ET), Haiti vs Scotland (June 13, 2100 ET), Scotland vs Morocco (June 19, 1800 ET), Brazil vs Haiti (June 18, 2030 ET), Scotland vs Brazil (June 24, 1800 ET), Morocco vs Haiti (June 24, 1800 ET).
Group D
United States are second-time hosts after 1994 and automatically qualified. They open against Paraguay in Los Angeles. A deep run could accelerate soccer's growth in the country, while an early exit from a favorable group could stall progress. Key player Christian Pulisic (AC Milan) leads the team, which aims to match their best result of third place in 1930.
Paraguay had a remarkable qualifying campaign, climbing from the bottom with a nine-match unbeaten run, including victories over Brazil and Argentina, to finish sixth and secure automatic qualification. Argentine coach Gustavo Alfaro emphasizes psychology and grit, echoing their 2010 quarter-final run.
Australia returns to the knockout rounds after reaching the last 16 in 2022, matching their best result from 2006. With the expanded tournament, qualification was easier. The squad features World Cup debutants and rising talents like strikers Irankunda and Mohamed Toure.
Turkey returns to the World Cup for the first time in 24 years after a series of narrow wins in the European play-offs. Their best result was a semi-final run in 2002. Key players include Inter's Hakan Calhanoglu and Real Madrid's Arda Guler. Fans believe this could be the country's strongest team in decades, though consistency remains a concern.
Group D Fixtures: United States vs Paraguay (June 12, 2100 ET), Australia vs Turkey (June 14, 0000 ET), United States vs Australia (June 19, 1500 ET), Turkey vs Paraguay (June 19, 2300 ET), Turkey vs United States (June 25, 2200 ET), Paraguay vs Australia (June 25, 2200 ET).
Group E
Germany qualified with five wins out of six, losing only to Slovakia. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer came out of international retirement at 40 to play in his fifth World Cup. The four-time champions seek redemption after failing to advance past the group stage in the last two World Cups. Key players include Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala.
Curacao is the smallest country to ever qualify, with a population of around 150,000. They secured their spot in a dramatic 101-minute match against Jamaica, where a stoppage-time penalty was overturned by VAR. Coach Dick Advocaat leads the Blue Wave in their first World Cup, aiming for their first points.
Ecuador finished second in South American qualifying, toppling reigning champions Argentina 1-0. They conceded only five goals in 18 matches, relying on solid defense and counterattacks. Their best result was the round of 16 in 2006.
Cote d'Ivoire swept through African qualifiers without conceding a goal, with eight wins and two draws. Coach Emerse Faé aims to wash away a disappointing Afcon title defense. They seek to advance past the group stage for the first time in their fourth World Cup.
Group E Fixtures: Germany vs Curacao (June 14, 1300 ET), Ivory Coast vs Ecuador (June 14, 1900 ET), Germany vs Ivory Coast (June 20, 1600 ET), Ecuador vs Curacao (June 20, 2000 ET), Curacao vs Ivory Coast (June 25, 1600 ET), Ecuador vs Germany (June 25, 1600 ET).
Group F
Netherlands qualified comfortably with the second-best goal difference in European qualifiers. Memphis Depay, the all-time top scorer, scored a third of the team's goals. Coach Ronald Koeman relies on a pragmatic style and a strong defense led by Virgil van Dijk and Micky van de Ven. The Dutch have reached five semi-finals and lost three finals, making them the best-performing nation without a title.
Japan was the first non-host nation to qualify, securing their spot in March 2025 with three games to spare. They scored 54 goals and conceded only three in qualifying. This is their eighth consecutive World Cup, and they reached the round of 16 in the last two tournaments, including memorable wins over Germany and Spain in 2022. Key players include captain Wataru Endo, Takefusa Kubo, and Ayase Ueda.
Sweden made history as the first men's team to qualify after finishing last in their main qualifying group without a win. They reached the tournament through the UEFA Nations League playoff pathway, where Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick against Ukraine and an 88th-minute winner against Poland. Coach Graham Potter has fan support, but expectations are modest despite a proud World Cup history, including third place in 1994 and a runner-up finish in 1958.
Tunisia topped their African qualifying group with a clean sheet in all 10 matches, winning nine and drawing one. Goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen was crucial, while Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri adds grit to midfield. This is their seventh World Cup appearance, still seeking their first knockout stage win. New coach Sabri Lamouchi faces a tough job, but Tunisia famously beat France 1-0 in 2022.
Group F Fixtures: Netherlands vs Japan (June 14, 1600 ET), Sweden vs Tunisia (June 14, 2200 ET), Netherlands vs Sweden (June 20, 1300 ET), Tunisia vs Japan (June 21, 0000 ET), Japan vs Sweden (June 25, 1900 ET), Tunisia vs Netherlands (June 25, 1900 ET).
Group G
Iran qualified in March 2025 after a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan secured top spot in their Asian group. They have become World Cup regulars but never reached the knockout rounds. Their buildup was disrupted by war, with the domestic league suspended for weeks. Coach Amir Ghalenoei relies on captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Olympiacos striker Mehdi Taremi.
New Zealand won the Oceanian qualifiers for a direct spot, returning after a 16-year absence. They have never passed the group stage in previous campaigns (1982, 2010). The expanded tournament gives them a better chance to make history.
Belgium had an unbeaten qualifying run, topping their group ahead of Wales and North Macedonia. Their best result was third place in 2018. Coach Rudi Garcia seeks redemption after a group-stage exit in 2022 and a round-of-16 loss at Euro 2024. Key players include Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, making them group favorites.
Egypt topped their qualifying group unbeaten, led by Mohamed Salah, the Premier League's all-time top foreign scorer, who left Liverpool at the end of the season. Egypt is dominant in Africa with a record 78 Afcon victories but has never won a World Cup match since debuting in 1934.
Group G Fixtures: Belgium vs Egypt (June 15, 1500 ET), Iran vs New Zealand (June 15, 2100 ET), Belgium vs Iran (June 21, 1500 ET), New Zealand vs Egypt (June 21, 2100 ET), Egypt vs Iran (June 26, 2300 ET), New Zealand vs Belgium (June 26, 2300 ET).
Group H
Spain are reigning European champions and qualified as group winners. They seek a second world title after 2010. Coach Luis de la Fuente blends midfield control with explosive wide players like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.
Cape Verde qualified for their first World Cup after winning their African group with a 3-0 victory over Eswatini. The small island nation's squad is built from a global diaspora, making their debut a great story of the expanded tournament.
Saudi Arabia qualified as group winners in the fourth round of Asian qualifiers. They return for a third straight World Cup, looking to replicate their famous win over Argentina in 2022. Their best result was the round of 16 in 1994.
Uruguay confirmed their spot after finishing fourth in South American qualifiers. They have won the World Cup twice (1930, 1950). Coach Marcelo Bielsa's side features Federico Valverde, Ronald Araujo, and Darwin Nunez, giving them edge and pace. They are expected to challenge Spain for the top spot.
Group H Fixtures: Spain vs Cape Verde (June 15, 1200 ET), Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (June 15, 1800 ET), Spain vs Saudi Arabia (June 21, 1200 ET), Uruguay vs Cape Verde (June 21, 1800 ET), Uruguay vs Spain (June 26, 2000 ET), Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia (June 26, 2000 ET).
Group I
France enter as back-to-back World Cup finalists, winning in 2018 and losing on penalties in 2022. They dominated their qualifying group, winning all but one match. This will be coach Didier Deschamps' last tournament with the team, as he aims for a fourth final in eight editions since their first World Cup victory, which he captained.
Senegal qualified undefeated at the top of their group. They became the second African team to reach the World Cup quarter-finals in 2002 and made the round of 16 in 2022. Led by captain Kalidou Koulibaly and all-time top scorer Sadio Mane, they won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and were initially declared winners of the 2025 edition but later stripped of the title.
Iraq qualified on March 31 after a lengthy odyssey through four qualifying rounds and an intercontinental playoff against Bolivia. Coached by Australian Graham Arnold, they return 40 years after their last World Cup in 1986, where they finished last. They aim for their first ever points.
Norway will participate in the World Cup for the first time this century, last qualifying in 1998. They made the round of 16 then, their best finish. Led by Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland, they scored the most goals in European qualifiers and will challenge France for the top spot.
Group I Fixtures: France vs Senegal (June 16, 1500 ET), Iraq vs Norway (June 16, 1800 ET), France vs Iraq (June 22, 1700 ET), Norway vs Senegal (June 22, 2000 ET), Norway vs France (June 26, 1500 ET), Senegal vs Iraq (June 26, 1500 ET).
Group J
Argentina are defending champions and among the favorites, with Lionel Messi symbolizing the team alongside a younger core including Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, and Alexis Mac Allister. They qualified top of South American qualifiers and chase back-to-back titles, which would join Italy and Germany as four-time champions.
Algeria returns after a 12-year absence, with Riyad Mahrez still the creative engine, supported by Rayan Ait-Nouri and Mohamed Amoura, the top scorer in African qualifiers with 10 goals. They topped their group with eight wins and are dangerous knockout contenders, aiming to challenge Austria for second place. Their best result was the round of 16 in 2014.
Austria returns for the first time since 1998. With players like Real Madrid's David Alaba, coach Ralf Rangnick's side believes they can reach the knockout rounds despite losing midfielder Christoph Baumgartner to injury. They qualified as group winners, and their best result was third place in 1954.
Jordan secured their first World Cup appearance in June 2025 after finishing as group runners-up in the third round of Asian qualifiers. Managed by Jamal Sellami, they reached the global stage after years as outsiders. Reaching the knockout stage would be a historic achievement.
Group J Fixtures: Argentina vs Algeria (June 16, 2100 ET), Austria vs Jordan (June 17, 0000 ET), Argentina vs Austria (June 22, 1300 ET), Jordan vs Algeria (June 22, 2300 ET), Algeria vs Austria (June 27, 2200 ET), Jordan vs Argentina (June 27, 2200 ET).
Group K
Portugal's all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, will play in his sixth and last World Cup, seeking the first world title for his country. Their best result was third place in 1966. Coach Roberto Martinez's team qualified after a 9-1 win against Armenia. The Nations League winners are group favorites.
DR Congo qualified after Burnley's Axel Tuanzebe scored an extra-time winner in the inter-confederation playoffs against Jamaica. They return 52 years after their last appearance in 1974 as Zaire, where they lost all group matches without scoring.
Uzbekistan enters their first World Cup under coach Fabio Cannavaro, a former Ballon d'Or winner. Key players include Manchester City's Abdukodir Khusanov and Istanbul Basaksehir's Eldor Shomurodov. They secured qualification after finishing second in their Asian group.
Colombia qualified after taking third place in South American qualifying with a 3-0 win over Bolivia. They seek redemption after missing the 2022 World Cup. Their best result was the quarter-finals in 2014. Key players include Luis Suarez, Luis Diaz, and James Rodriguez, in what could be Rodriguez's last World Cup.
Group K Fixtures: Portugal vs DR Congo (June 17, 1300 ET), Uzbekistan vs Colombia (June 17, 2200 ET), Portugal vs Uzbekistan (June 23, 1300 ET), Colombia vs DR Congo (June 23, 2200 ET), Colombia vs Portugal (June 27, 1930 ET), DR Congo vs Uzbekistan (June 27, 1930 ET).
Group L
England qualified as clear group winners with eight consecutive wins without conceding a goal. The 1966 champions aim to end a 60-year drought. Coach Thomas Tuchel's side hopes to overcome recent losses to European rivals, including a 2022 quarter-final loss to France and consecutive European Championship final defeats to Italy and Spain.
Croatia secured their spot with an unbeaten qualification run, though they drew matches unlike England. Led by veteran captain Luka Modric, they were runners-up in 2018, losing to France in a tense final.
Ghana will compete in their fifth World Cup, with their best result being quarter-finals in 2010, where Luis Suarez's handball denied them a winning goal. Coach Carlos Queiroz's side qualified after a 1-0 victory over Comoros secured top spot.
Panama is one of five non-debutants yet to win a World Cup match. This is their second tournament after losing all matches in 2018, including one against England. They qualified with a top spot after a 3-0 win over El Salvador.
Group L Fixtures: England vs Croatia (June 17, 1600 ET), Ghana vs Panama (June 17, 1900 ET), England vs Ghana (June 23, 1600 ET), Panama vs Croatia (June 23, 1900 ET), Panama vs England (June 27, 1700 ET), Croatia vs Ghana (June 27, 1700 ET).
