The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup groups was held in Washington.

On December 5, the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and 42 of the 48 participants in the tournament were determined.

Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and the winner of the play-off matches, which could be the national teams of the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark or North Macedonia, will play in Group A. Group B includes Canada, Qatar, Switzerland and the winner of the ties, which could be joined by Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy or Northern Ireland.

Brazil, Morocco, Scotland and Haiti will meet in Group C. Group E will consist of Germany, Ecuador, Côte d'Ivoire and Curaçao. Group D was named the "group of life", in which the teams of the USA, Paraguay and Australia will play, as well as the winner of the play-off matches. The Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and the winner of the matches among Ukraine, Sweden, Poland and Albania will play in Group F.

Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand will meet in Group G, while Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde will be in Group H.

Group I will include France, Senegal, Norway and the winner of the intercontinental cup, which may be represented by Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq. In Group J, Argentina, Austria, Algeria and Jordan will meet. Group K brings together Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan and the winner of the intercontinental ties, which may include Jamaica, New Caledonia or DR Congo. England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama will play in Group L.

Visa survey: the United States clarified the entry rules for Russians at the 2026 World Cup

You can still apply only in Astana and Warsaw.

On November 20, the draw for the pairs of play-off matches for the right to qualify for the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in Zurich. The national teams will play two one-legged rounds in the playoff format (semifinals and final), and the winners will advance to the final stage of the World Cup.

Italy will play Northern Ireland in the qualifying round, and Wales will play Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The matches between Ukraine and Sweden and Poland and Albania will take place on the way. Turkey and Romania, as well as Slovakia and Kosovo, will meet on the way. On route D, there will be a match between Denmark and North Macedonia and the Czech Republic and Ireland for reaching the finals.

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