FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Highlights: Argentina start title defence vs Algeria, England vs Croatia and Spain vs Uruguay big clashes after draw

Dec 6, 2025 12:46 AM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Check out the final groups
Dec 6, 2025 12:37 AM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Final Groups
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, UEFA Playoff D winner ( Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Ireland)
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A winner ( Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Playoff C winner (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo)
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B winner (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania)
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Playoff 2 winners (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq)
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, FIFA Playoffs 1 winner (New Caledonia, Jamaica, Congo)
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Dec 6, 2025 12:25 AM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Groups after Pot 3
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland
Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama
Dec 6, 2025 12:13 AM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Groups after Pot 2
Group A: Mexico, South Korea
Group B: Canada, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Group D: United States, Australia
Group E: Germany, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan
Group G: Belgium, Iran
Group H: Spain, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal
Group J: Argentina, Austria
Group K: Portugal, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia
Dec 6, 2025 12:02 AM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Groups after Pot 1
Group A: Mexico
Group B: Canada
Group C: Brazil
Group D: United States
Group E: Germany
Group F: Netherlands
Group G: Belgium
Group H: Spain
Group I: France
Group J: Argentina
Group K: Portugal
Group L: England
Dec 5, 2025 11:53 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Star studded field
We now will have the people who will help Ferdinand and Samantha Johnson with the draw. Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O'Neal, Tom Brady and Aaron Judge
Dec 5, 2025 11:33 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Another musical performance
And we still wait for the draw to begin as Lauryn Hill is performing now. We have to be patient for a little bit longer.
Dec 5, 2025 11:27 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Here are the groups as of now
Group A: Mexico
Group B: Canada
Group C:
Group D: United States
Group E:
Group F:
Group G:
Group H:
Group I:
Group J:
Group K:
Group L:
Dec 5, 2025 11:26 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Ceremonial picks
First team drawn is Canada. The second team drawn is Mexico. The third team is USA. As we already knew these three teams will be in Group A, Group B and Group D respectively. This is like a ceremonial picks where we already knew what would be happening.
Dec 5, 2025 11:18 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Set to begin
Donald Trump as well as the president of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum and Mark Carney PM of Canada are called on stage now. They'll be assisting with the draw it seems.
Dec 5, 2025 11:16 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Almost time for the official draw
2002 World Cup winner Roberto Carlos is interviewed next and the World Cup trophy is brought to the stage by Argentine World Cup winning coach Lionel Scaloni. The draw will begin imminently.
Dec 5, 2025 11:00 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Trump gets a peace prize
And in a video interlude, it is announced that Donald Trump will finally get a peace prize. Not the Nobel one but FIFA's. Well, that's something I guess. And Infantino presents the medal and the trophy to Trump on stage. Trump has worn the medal on his own btw. That is also an interesting trophy design.
Dec 5, 2025 10:53 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Official anthem time
Nicole Scherzinger and Robbie Williams now perform an anthem of the World Cup 2026. It's called Desire
Dec 5, 2025 10:43 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Infantino graces the stage
And here's FIFA president Gianni Infantino to grace the stage. He welcomes everyone to the ceremony. Also gives a special shout out to US president Donald Trump as well as the president of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum and Mark Carney PM of Canada
Dec 5, 2025 10:37 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Hosts are here
And we welcome the hosts of tonight's ceremony as Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart make their way to the stage.
Dec 5, 2025 10:33 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: We begin with Andrea Bocelli
And the ceremony officially begins with a performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
Dec 5, 2025 10:29 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: The mascots
Check out the official mascots of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Maple the Moose (Canada), Zayu the Jaguar (Mexico) and Clutch the Bald Eagle (USA)'
Dec 5, 2025 10:26 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Almost time
We are into live feed with the final countdown track playing. The announcement is made that the event will begin shortly. Here we go!!
Dec 5, 2025 10:23 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Final and 3rd place matches
3rd place match
Saturday, 18 July 2026
Match 103 – Loser match 101 v Loser match 102 - Miami Stadium
FIFA World Cup 2026 Final
Sunday, 19 July 2026
Match 104 – Winner match 101 v Winner match 102 - New York New Jersey Stadium
Dec 5, 2025 10:22 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Semifinals schedule
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Match 101 – Winner match 97 v Winner match 98 - Dallas Stadium
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Match 102 – Winner match 99 v Winner match 100 - Atlanta Stadium
Dec 5, 2025 10:21 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Quarterfinals schedule
Thursday, 9 July 2026
Match 97 – Winner match 89 v Winner match 90 - Boston Stadium
Friday, 10 July 2026
Match 98 – Winner match 93 v Winner match 94 - Los Angeles Stadium
Saturday, 11 July 2026
Match 99 – Winner match 91 v Winner match 92 - Miami Stadium
Match 100 – Winner match 95 v Winner match 96 - Kansas City Stadium
Dec 5, 2025 10:12 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: How can Italy qualify?
Italy was stopped by Sweden from getting to the 2018 World Cup. It was North Macedonia in 2022. Now it is Northern Ireland’s turn. Four-time World Cup winner Italy is back in the qualifying playoffs for a third straight time and the draw by FIFA on Thursday plots a tricky path toward ending a remarkable 12-year wait to play on soccer’s biggest stage.
Italy first hosts Northern Ireland in a single elimination game on March 26 with the winner having to travel to face Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina. At stake is a place at the first 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Northern Irish shape as a similar test to North Macedonia, which resisted waves of attacks in Palermo in March 2022 before stunning Italy with a single goal in stoppage time.
Dec 5, 2025 10:11 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Round of 16 schedule
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Match 89 – Winner match 74 v Winner match 77 - Philadelphia Stadium
Match 90 – Winner match 73 v Winner match 75 - Houston Stadium
Sunday, 5 July 2026
Match 91 – Winner match 76 v Winner match 78 - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 92 – Winner match 79 v Winner match 80 - Mexico City Stadium
Monday, 6 July 2026
Match 93 – Winner match 83 v Winner match 84 - Dallas Stadium
Match 94 – Winner match 81 v Winner match 82 - Seattle Stadium
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Match 95 – Winner match 86 v Winner match 88 - Atlanta Stadium
Match 96 – Winner match 85 v Winner match 87 - BC Place Vancouver
Dec 5, 2025 10:08 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: We are almost there
A little under half an hour till the official ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw begins
Dec 5, 2025 10:04 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Round of 32 fixtures
Sunday, 28 June 2026
Match 73 – Group A runners-up v Group B runners-up - Los Angeles Stadium
Monday, 29 June 2026
Match 74 – Group E winners v Group A/B/C/D/F third place - Boston Stadium
Match 75 – Group F winners v Group C runners-up - Estadio Monterrey
Match 76 – Group C winners v Group F runners-up - Houston Stadium
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Match 77 – Group I winners v Group C/D/F/G/H third place - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 78 – Group E runners up v Group I runners-up - Dallas Stadium
Match 79 – Group A winners v Group C/E/F/H/I third place - Mexico City Stadium
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Match 80 – Group L winners v Group E/H/I/J/K third place - Atlanta Stadium
Match 81 – Group D winners v Group B/E/F/I/J third place - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Match 82 – Group G winners v Group A/E/H/I/J third place - Seattle Stadium
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Match 83 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up - Toronto Stadium
Match 84 – Group H winners v Group J runners-up - Los Angeles Stadium
Match 85 – Group B winners v Group E/F/G/I/J third place - BC Place Vancouver
Friday, 3 July 2026
Match 86 – Group J winners v Group H runners-up - Miami Stadium
Match 87 – Group K winners v Group D/E/I/J/L third place - Kansas City Stadium
Match 88 – Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up - Dallas Stadium
Dec 5, 2025 09:56 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Group Stage schedule
Thursday, 11 June 2026
Match 1 - Group A (Mexico #1) – Mexico City Stadium
Match 2 – Group A - Estadio Guadalajara
Friday, 12 June 2026
Match 3 - Group B (Canada #1) – Toronto Stadium
Match 4 - Group D (USA #1) – Los Angeles Stadium
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Match 5 – Group C - Boston Stadium
Match 6 – Group D - BC Place Vancouver
Match 7 – Group C - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 8 – Group B - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Match 9 – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium
Match 10 – Group E - Houston Stadium
Match 11 – Group F - Dallas Stadium
Match 12 – Group F - Estadio Monterrey
Monday, 15 June 2026
Match 13 – Group H - Miami Stadium
Match 14 – Group H - Atlanta Stadium
Match 15 – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium
Match 16 – Group G - Seattle Stadium
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Match 17 – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 18 – Group I - Boston Stadium
Match 19 – Group J - Kansas City Stadium
Match 20 – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Match 21 – Group L - Toronto Stadium
Match 22 – Group L - Dallas Stadium
Match 23 – Group K - Houston Stadium
Match 24 – Group K - Mexico City Stadium
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Match 25 – Group A - Atlanta Stadium
Match 26 – Group B - Los Angeles Stadium
Match 27 - Group B - (Canada #2) – BC Place Vancouver
Match 28 - Group A - (Mexico #2) – Estadio Guadalajara
Friday, 19 June 2026
Match 29 – Group C - Philadelphia Stadium
Match 30 – Group C - Boston Stadium
Match 31 – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Match 32 - Group D (USA #2) – Seattle Stadium
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Match 33 – Group E - Toronto Stadium
Match 34 – Group E - Kansas City Stadium
Match 35 – Group F - Houston Stadium
Match 36 – Group F - Estadio Monterrey
Sunday, 21 June 2026
Match 37 – Group H - Miami Stadium
Match 38 – Group H - Atlanta Stadium
Match 39 – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium
Match 40 – Group G - BC Place Vancouver
Monday, 22 June 2026
Match 41 – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 42 – Group I - Philadelphia Stadium
Match 43 – Group J - Dallas Stadium
Match 44 – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Match 45 – Group L - Boston Stadium
Match 46 – Group L - Toronto Stadium
Match 47 – Group K - Houston Stadium
Match 48 – Group K - Estadio Guadalajara
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Match 49 – Group C - Miami Stadium
Match 50 – Group C - Atlanta Stadium
Match 51 - Group B (Canada #3) – BC Place Vancouver
Match 52 – Group B - Seattle Stadium
Match 53 - Group A - (Mexico #3) – Mexico City Stadium
Match 54 – Group A - Estadio Monterrey
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Match 55 – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium
Match 56 – Group E - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 57 – Group F - Dallas Stadium
Match 58 – Group F - Kansas City Stadium
Match 59 - Group D - (USA #3) – Los Angeles Stadium
Match 60 – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium
Friday, 26 June 2026
Match 61 – Group I - Boston Stadium
Match 62 – Group I - Toronto Stadium
Match 63 – Group G - Seattle Stadium
Match 64 – Group G - BC Place Vancouver
Match 65 – Group H - Houston Stadium
Match 66 – Group H - Estadio Guadalajara
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Match 67 – Group L - New York New Jersey Stadium
Match 68 – Group L - Philadelphia Stadium
Match 69 – Group J - Kansas City Stadium
Match 70 – Group J - Dallas Stadium
Match 71 – Group K - Miami Stadium
Match 72 – Group K - Atlanta Stadium
Dec 5, 2025 09:47 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: The underdogs
Curacao – the island whose entire population can fit into the Narendra Modi Stadium and Eden Gardens and still leave some 20,000 seats vacant – became the smallest ever nation to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Haiti, ravaged by conflict and famine, ended their 52-year wait to make the cut for the biggest single-sport event on the planet, without any of the players or the coach setting foot on home soil.
Uzbekistan has tried and failed to qualify for the World Cup seven times since its independence, following the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. They came painfully close for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014 editions. This time, finally, they crossed the line.
- Mihir Vasavda writes
Dec 5, 2025 09:43 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Why are USA, Canada and Mexico in Pot 1?
The USA, Mexico and Canada are placed in pot 1 along with the highest ranked teams due to them being the hosts and will have the advantage of avoiding powerhouse teams like Argentina, England, France, Germany, Brazil and Portugal due to them being in the same pot.
Dec 5, 2025 09:27 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Why Iran will boycott the draw?
The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) decided to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw after the United States refused to grant visas to several important members of its delegation, including federation president Mehdi Taj. Denying him a visa is significant since Taj is part of two governing body committees that have oversight of the tournament. He is also a vice-president of the Asian Football Confederation.
Only four officials, including Iran’s head coach Amir Ghalenoei, got visas, with the FFIRI saying that the decisions by the US authorities were “unsportsmanlike”.
Dec 5, 2025 09:21 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Why the group of death may be a casualty
Once the group-stage draw is out, the fans can trace the potential journey, even though draws do not mean what they seem to mean at first reading, like the best laid plans of men and mice. For example, Spain and Argentina, the top two teams in the rankings, will avoid each other until the final. As would be the fate of the third and fourth-ranked sides, France and England. It means blockbuster matchups in the early knockout stages would be few. The long and laborious group phase could be tedious. Seeding has existed since the 1930 edition, but it is the first time that there has been seeding within the seeding.
The biggest casualty could be the group of death, often the central narrative of the preliminary stage. The scattering of higher-ranked teams kills the theme, but there could still be a group with four strong teams. Like Argentina could face Croatia, Norway and Italy (If they qualify).
-Sandip G writes
Dec 5, 2025 09:16 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Messi, Ronaldo's last World Cup?
This World Cup will be one of the big ones, not only because it has 48 teams participating but also for the fact that this one is likely going to be the last-ever World Cup the two footballing behemoths in Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, will play in. If it turns out to be so, it'll truly be the end of an era. While Messi finally won the big one in 2022, Ronaldo is yet to touch the holy grail. Can he do it next year? Or will Messi successfully help the Argentinians defend their crown? We'll find out in 6 months' time.
Dec 5, 2025 09:10 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Finally, a peace prize for Trump
Like a hymn, Village People’s YMCA will thrum in the concert hall of the Kennedy Centre where the FIFA World Cup draw will take place on Friday evening. Once looked upon as a gay anthem, it’s the ubiquitous soundtrack of the American president Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ rallies. The blind Italian vocalist Andrea Bocelli would render one of his operatic arias; Robbie Williams would croon an old love-sick melody; Heidi Klum would rev up the glam quotient. An audience of two hundred million will hold their breath to learn their team’s fate and fortunes.
Amidst all these, one man could walk away with the prize and glory. FIFA would award a peace prize, “to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace.” These are the words of FIFA supremo Giovanni Infantino. Connect the all-too-evident dots. The apostle of world peace could be Trump.
- Sandip G writes
Dec 5, 2025 09:07 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Teams won't know their venues and timings till tomorrow
While the teams will find out their opponents on Friday, they will have to wait till Saturday to find out where and when they will be playing.
Dec 5, 2025 09:01 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Which teams are in the playoffs to qualify
UEFA Playoff A teams: Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
UEFA Playoff B teams: Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania
UEFA Playoff C teams: Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo
UEFA Playoff D teams: Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Ireland.
FIFA Playoffs 1 teams: New Caledonia, Jamaica, Congo
FIFA Playoff 2 teams: Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq
Dec 5, 2025 08:59 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: A bit of wait expected before the main draw begins
The draw at Washington's Kennedy Center will be preceded by a glitz-rich show dripping in VIPs, with the expected presentation of FIFA's new peace prize to President Donald Trump vying with live shows by Andrea Bocelli and the Village People for top billing. Once that is all out of the way, the allocation of groups for the expanded 48-team competition will begin.
Dec 5, 2025 08:57 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Will there be a Group of Death?
The seedings also ensure that the preliminary stages might not see big teams going head-to-head. With some exceptions of course. Argentina can play in a group that consists of Morocco, Norway and Italy (if they qualify). Or France/England/Germany can be clubbed with Uruguay, Norway and Ghana.
Dec 5, 2025 08:50 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Italy yet to qualify
The world's top 11-ranked teams have all qualified, with No. 12 Italy among 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths to be decided March 31.
Dec 5, 2025 08:49 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: A few constraints
There are also certain aspects that the draw will adhere to with each group having no more than 2 European teams. Also, apart from UEFA, no other confederation can have 2 teams from the same confederation in the same group. For example, in the preliminary group stage Brazil can’t be clubbed with Uruguay as they are both under CONCACAF. Or Japan can’t be clubbed in the same group with Uzbekistan because they are both under AFC.
Dec 5, 2025 08:47 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Top 4 teams unlikely to place each other till the semis or final
The draw will also be made in such a way that the top 4 ranked teams do not face each other till late in the tournament like the semifinal or the final. So, fans salivating over the prospect of seeing holders Argentina (Rank 2) take on Spain (Rank 1) or France (Rank 3) take on England (Rank 4) in the preliminary stages may need to temper their expectations.
Dec 5, 2025 08:43 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: What is the format of the World Cup
With the World Cup getting expanded, the regular format has been slightly tweaked. Now, there will be 12 groups (A-L) where 4 teams will be housed in each of them depending on the draw. After that, two top teams from each group, along with the 8 best 3rd placed teams will qualify for the Round of 32. After that, we will shift to a more familiar format with 16 teams advancing from the RO32 to the RO16. From there, 8 will advance to the quarterfinals, then 4 to the semifinals and finally the top two will meet in the summit clash.
Dec 5, 2025 08:38 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: Who are in the 4 pots?
Pot 1: Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3), England (4), Brazil (5), Portugal (6), Netherlands (7), Belgium (8), Germany (9), United States (14), Mexico (15), Canada (27).
Pot 2: Croatia (10), Morocco (11), Colombia (13), Uruguay (16), Switzerland (17), Japan (18), Senegal (19), Iran (20), South Korea (22), Ecuador (23), Austria (24), Australia (26).
Pot 3: Norway (29), Panama (30), Egypt (34), Algeria (35), Scotland (36), Paraguay (39), Tunisia (40), Ivory Coast (42), Uzbekistan (60), Qatar (51), Saudi Arabia (60), South Africa (61).
Pot 4: Jordan (66), Cape Verde (68), Ghana (72), Curaçao (82), Haiti (84), New Zealand (86), UEFA Playoff A, UEFA Playoff B, UEFA Playoff C, UEFA Playoff D, FIFA Playoff 1, FIFA Playoff 2.
Dec 5, 2025 08:38 PM IST
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw LIVE: How the draw works
The exercise is similar to how the Champions League draw takes place with balls with each country’s name separated into four pots of 12 and each group will include one team drawn from each pot. The top seeded teams are all in pot 1 which was determined by the latest FIFA rankings.