The draw for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in Washington D.C. on Friday afternoon, setting up dramatic group stage clashes and confirming the initial paths for top contenders, including England and Scotland.1 The event, marked by the presence of US President Donald Trump, who was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, saw American sports legends like Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal participate in the drawing ceremony.
The Home Nations’ Paths
England (Group L)
The Three Lions were drawn into a challenging but manageable group and are widely considered favorites to progress to the knockout stage.
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Group L Opponents: Croatia, Panama, and Ghana.3
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Analysis: The match against Croatia is expected to be decisive for the top spot, while Ghana poses a significant threat, building on their recent World Cup appearances.
Scotland (Group C)
Scotland faces a difficult, yet arguably less perilous draw than other potential outcomes.
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Group C Opponents: Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti.4
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Analysis: The opener against five-time champions Brazil will be the biggest test, while the matches against African powerhouse Morocco and Haiti will determine their fate in a group seen as one of the most competitive.
Key Groups
The draw confirmed several highly anticipated duels between the world’s best players:
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Group I Showdown: Beaten 2022 finalists France will meet Norway. This match will pit Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé against Manchester City’s Erling Haaland—widely regarded as the two best strikers in the world. They will also face Senegal and the winner of Intercontinental Play-off 2.
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Current Champions: Holders Argentina are in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria, and Jordan.5
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Portugal’s Challenge: Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, headlines Group K with Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the winner of Intercontinental Play-off 1.6
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North American Hosts:
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Mexico (Group A) face South Korea, South Africa, and the winner of UEFA play-off D.7
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Canada (Group B) will compete against Switzerland, 2022 hosts Qatar, and the winner of UEFA play-off A.8
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USA (Group D) were drawn with Australia, Paraguay, and the winner of UEFA play-off C.9
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2026 FIFA World Cup Schedule
The schedule for the expanded 48-team tournament, which will feature 104 matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, was also confirmed, with detailed match allocations to be announced by FIFA shortly.10
| Tournament Phase | Dates | Key Events |
| Group Stage | June 11 – June 27 | Tournament opens with Mexico at Estadio Azteca on June 11. |
| Last 32 | June 28 – July 3 | First round of knockouts in the expanded 48-team format. |
| Last 16 | July 4 – July 7 | |
| Quarter-finals | July 9 – July 11 | All matches held in US NFL stadiums. |
| Semi-finals | July 14 – July 15 | |
| Final | Sunday, July 19 | Held at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. |
FIFA emphasized that the match allocation process following the draw is designed to optimize travel conditions for teams and provide the best possible viewing times for global fans.11
