Both Spain and France will face tough challenges in the group stages of the 2026 World Cup, while Mexico starts their campaign with a match against South Africa.
Spain and France have both been placed in challenging groups for the 2026 World Cup, while England are set for a rematch of their 2018 semi-final encounter.
The tournament will commence next summer with co-hosts Mexico facing 2010 hosts South Africa, with South Korea completing Group A.
The United States have been drawn alongside Australia and Paraguay, whereas Canada will meet Switzerland and Haiti. All three host nations will additionally play a team progressing from the UEFA play-off pathways.
European champions Spain, identified as the leading contenders by the Opta supercomputer (17%), will compete against Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde in Group H.
Group I appears to present the greatest difficulty, featuring France, who are ranked as the second favourites by Opta.
In what is expected to be Didier Deschamps’ final tournament as France’s head coach, his side will take on Erling Haaland’s Norway and Senegal, as well as the winner of a play-off involving Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname.
Defending champions Argentina, rated fourth by the Opta model will begin their title defence against Algeria before facing Austria and Jordan.
England, meanwhile, will have an opportunity to avenge their 2018 semi-final defeat to Croatia when the two nations meet in Group L, which also includes Ghana and Panama.
African champions Ivory Coast will seek to challenge Germany in Group E, while Italy will join Group B should they prevail in their play-off route.
2026 World Cup Groups
- Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, UEFA Play-off D winner (Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, North Macedonia)
- Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Play-off A winner (Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland)
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
- Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Play-off C winner (Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania)
- Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Uefa Play-off B winner (Ukraine, Poland, Albania, Sweden)
- Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
- Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Play-off 2 winner (Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname)
- Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Fifa Play-off 1 winner (DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia)
- Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
