December 5, 2025
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2026 World Cup groups are set: here’s what’s in store for Canada, Mexico, and the USA

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2026 World Cup groups are set: here’s what’s in store for Canada, Mexico, and the USA

The FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., divided a record 48 teams into 12 groups of four. Six spots won’t be determined until March, when 22 teams will face off in playoffs.

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The draw also served as a stage for U.S. President Donald Trump to receive the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize.

Which groups are the toughest?

Here’s a list of the groups from strongest to weakest, using each group’s average FIFA ranking. (For groups with placeholders, the highest-ranked possible qualifier was used.)

Group F – 23.25 (Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B)
Group D – 26 (United States, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Playoff C)
Group B – 26.75 (Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A)
Group I – 27.25 (France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Playoff 2)
Group L – 29 (England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana)
Group A – 29.75 (Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, UEFA Playoff D)
Group J – 31.75 (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan)
Group C – 34 (Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti)
Group H – 36.25 (Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde)
Group G – 37 (Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand)
Group K – 37.25 (Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, FIFA Playoff 1)
Group E – 39 (Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao)

Sigh of relief for the U.S.?

All told, it looks like a pretty good draw for the United States in Group D.

The Americans drew Australia, the lowest-ranked team in pot 2, as well as Paraguay. The lone European team in their group will be either Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo.