US Soccer
WASHINGTON, DC (WSAU) — Preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hit a major milestone Friday with the tournament draw, setting the roadmap towards crowning soccer’s world champion next July.
The draw began with FIFA awarding US President Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. FIFA representatives cited the President’s efforts to end conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.
Forty-two qualified nations and six playoff placeholders were then split into 12 groups of four:
Group A- Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Winner of European playoff D (Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia)
Group B- Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Winner of European Playoff A (Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland)
Group C- Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D- United States, Australia, Paraguay, Winner of European Playoff C (Turkey, Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia)
United States Schedule: June 12th vs PAR at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, June 19th vs AUS at Lumen Field in Seattle, June 25th vs playoff winners at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA
Group E- Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Group F- Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Winner of European Playoff B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania)
Group G- Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H- Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I- France, Senegal, Norway, Winner of Intercontinental Playoff 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq)
Group J- Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K- Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Winner of Intercontinental Playoff 1 (New Caledonia, Jamaica, Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Group L- England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Group play will feature a single-round-robin format, with the top two group winners and eight best third-place teams advancing to the knockout rounds. Group stage matches and early-round knockout matches will be held across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Matches from the quarterfinals on will be held exclusively in the United States, including the final, which will be July 19th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
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