The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just six months away, highlighting a shared focus on three co-hosting nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tournament draw will occur on December 5, determining group opponents for each team. Mexico’s current standing puts them in Group A while the US is in Group D and Canada brings up Group B.
As excitement builds, the emphasis shifts to potential matchups. The teams in contention are sorted into pots. You can refer to the full pot-by-pot breakdown here.
Draw Restrictions
No group can contain more than one team from the same confederation unless it includes two UEFA teams, given that 16 teams will participate. Additional complications arise from international playoff-tournament teams, which can affect host nations.
Worst-Case Scenarios for Mexico
Mexico’s recent decline in form has raised concerns as they approach the World Cup. Possible challenging groups could include:
Scenario A:
- Mexico
- Norway (UEFA)
- Colombia (CONMEBOL)
- Italy (UEFA playoff winner)
This scenario could pose significant challenges considering Mexico’s past performances against these teams.
Scenario B:
- Mexico
- Scotland (UEFA)
- Morocco (CAF)
- Sweden (UEFA playoff winner)
Facing two European teams could be tricky, given Mexico’s inconsistent history against them, including a lackluster performance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Best-Case Draw for Mexico
Mexico’s aspirations for success in the knockout rounds hinge on a beneficial group assignment. They failed to progress past the group phase at the last Qatar tournament, increasing the stakes for the upcoming games.
An ideal grouping might look like this:
- Mexico
- Ivory Coast (CAF)
- Iran (AFC)
- New Zealand (OFC)
Favorable rankings among these teams could aid Mexico’s journey, especially if they avoid early elimination this time around.
