On December 5, the eagerly awaited FIFA 2026 World Cup draw was conducted, setting the stage for 42 teams that have already qualified. The remaining six spots will be determined after the playoffs in March 2026, right before the tournament kicks off in June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The USMNT received a favorable draw and will face off against Australia, Paraguay, and the winner of UEFA Playoff D (either Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo). Below is the complete list of groups:
- Group A: Mexico, Korea Republic, South Africa, UEFA Playoff D (Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/North Macedonia)
- Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina)
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
- Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Playoff D (Turkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)
- Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B (Sweden/Ukraine/Poland/Albania)
- Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
- Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Intercontinental Playoff 2 (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname)
- Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Intercontinental Playoff 1 (DR Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia)
- Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
With the draw completed, let’s view the latest World Cup Power Rankings and the reactions to each team’s draw:
| Rank | Team | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Spain | They are favorites with Lamine Yamal, facing Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, and Cabo Verde. Winning their group might signal good fortune after Saudi Arabia’s previous win against Argentina in 2022. |
| 2. | Argentina | 2022 champions face a tough group with Austria and Algeria; Lionel Messi’s final tournament adds pressure to perform. |
| 3. | France | Kylian Mbappe will face Erling Haaland; their match against Senegal adds to the challenge. |
| 4. | Brazil | New coach Carlo Ancelotti must navigate tough opponents: Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. |
| 5. | England | A promising match against Croatia alongside Panama and Ghana—this is their moment with manager Thomas Tuchel. |
| 6. | Portugal | Cristiano Ronaldo’s last World Cup can be a high-profile event, as they are expected to compete fiercely. |
| 7. | Norway | Haaland’s scoring record makes them a threat; their opening match is against Mbappe’s France. |
| 8. | Germany | They seek redemption after past eliminations and will compete with Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curacao. |
| 9. | Netherlands | They will face Japan and need to perform well against a challenging playoff opponent. |
| 10. | Morocco | After a stellar performance in 2022, they face Brazil and Scotland, aiming for another surprise. |
The USMNT’s favorable path positions them positively, facing Australia and Paraguay, while awaiting UEFA Playoff B’s outcome, making for an exciting World Cup ahead!
