World Cup 2026 Groups: Complete Group Stage Draw

Updated 30 May 2026

All 12 groups for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, from Mexico vs South Africa on June 11 through to the final in New York.

The 2026 World Cup will kick off with 12 groups of four teams each, the first time the tournament has featured 48 nations. Each group contains one top seed and three drawn opponents, setting the stage for 104 matches across 39 days from June 11 to July 19. Mexico opens the tournament against South Africa in Mexico City, while heavyweights like Brazil, Argentina, France, and England anchor their respective groups.

The Full Group Stage Draw

Group A: Mexico (top seed), South Africa, Korea Republic, Czech Republic
Group B: Canada (top seed), Bosnia & Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil (top seed), Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States (top seed), Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany (top seed), Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands (top seed), Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium (top seed), Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain (top seed), Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France (top seed), Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Group J: Argentina (top seed), Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal (top seed), DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England (top seed), Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Track Every Group Live with Bola 2026

With 12 groups running simultaneously, staying on top of standings, goal difference, and who's advancing can get complicated fast. The free Bola 2026 app lets you follow every group's live standings, see match results as they happen, and build your knockout bracket from the group stage onward—no login required. More than 900 fans have already created group predictions in the app, part of the 1,800+ brackets built ahead of kickoff.

How the New Format Works

Unlike previous 32-team World Cups, the 48-team format means the top two from each group advance, plus the eight best third-place finishers. That creates a 32-team knockout stage, with the round of 32 beginning immediately after the group finale. The tournament runs from Mexico's opener on June 11 through the final at New York on July 19.

Key Groups to Watch

Group C brings Brazil face-to-face with Morocco, who reached the 2022 semi-finals, while Scotland and Haiti round out a tactically diverse pool. Group H pairs Spain and Uruguay in what could be a preview-quality clash. Group D puts the United States in a tricky group with Australia and Turkey, both capable of causing upsets. Group L reunites England and Croatia, who met in the 2018 semi-final, with Ghana and Panama adding wildcards.

Whether you're tracking your nation's quest or filling out a full tournament bracket, the group stage is where every World Cup story begins—and where you can start mapping your path to the final in the Bola 2026 app.

Frequently asked questions