The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was conducted in Washington, DC, on Friday, setting the stage for a tournament full of compelling storylines.
France, Norway, Senegal and a FIFA playoff winner were placed together in Group I, widely seen as the closest thing to a ‘group of death’.
Spain, the reigning European champions, were drawn with Uruguay in Group H, while Brazil will face Morocco in Group C.
England also have a testing path in Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Defending champions Argentina received a favourable Group J featuring Algeria, Austria and Jordan.
Fellow top seeds Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands also received manageable groups on paper.
Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States avoided the heavyweight nations and will be confident of progressing.
FIFA is expected to announce the full match schedule on Saturday, although the opening game has been confirmed: Mexico will face South Africa at the Azteca Stadium on June 11.
Below is the full breakdown of all 12 groups, including potential playoff entrants:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, P/O D winner (Republic of Ireland, Czechia, Denmark or North Macedonia)
Group B: Canada, P/O A winner (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia), Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, P/O C winner (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo)
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, P/O B winner (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania), Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, P/O 2 winner (Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname), Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, P/O 1 winner (New Caledonia, Jamaica or DR Congo), Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Four European playoff winners (A, B, C and D) and two inter-confederation playoff winners (1 and 2) will complete the field, with those playoffs scheduled for late March.
