The World Cup 2026 draw sees 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four, as the schedule for the tournament in North America next summer begins to take shape.
Initially, FIFA planned for World Cup 2026 to have groups of three, but this was abandoned in favour of the traditional four-team format: it just means that eight third-placed sides will progress into a Round of 32, along with the top two in each group.
With thoughts turning to the tournament squads, too, the countdown to the competition begins here – and FourFourTwo is here to bring you the best of the greatest show on Earth in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
There are only 42 nations who have qualified for the tournament so far: that's the three hosts, along with three other CONCACAF nations, eight AFC, nine CAF, six CONMEBOL, one OFC country and eight from UEFA.
Six places are left at the tournament, with 16 European teams still in the hunt for a place: they'll battle it out in March in the play-offs, with just four of them guaranteed a place at the competition.
Just two other spots are up for grabs via the intercontinental play-offs: one of New Caledonia, Jamaica or DR Congo will book their place, alongside one of Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname.
Each of the teams still to qualify automatically go into Pot 4, regardless.
The Pots
World Cup 2026 draw pots
*Brackets indicate FIFA World Ranking as of November 2025
The confirmed group stage
Group A
- Mexico
- South Korea
- South Africa
- UEFA Path D winner (Denmark, North Macedonia, Republic of Ireland or Czech Republic)
Group B
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Qatar
- UEFA Path A winner (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia)
Group C
Group D
- United States
- Australia
- Paraguay
- UEFA Path C winner (Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, or Romania)
Group E
Group F
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Tunisia
- UEFA Path B winner (Ukraine, Albania, Poland or Sweden)
Group G
Group H
Group I
Group J
Group K
- Portugal
- Colombia
- Uzbekistan
- Intercontinental Path 1 winner (DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia)
