Illustration of 2026 FIFA World Cup draw with 48 teams' flags, debuting nations highlighted, Argentina as champions, cheering crowd.
Illustration of 2026 FIFA World Cup draw with 48 teams' flags, debuting nations highlighted, Argentina as champions, cheering crowd.
Image generated by AI

Full groups and fixtures set for 2026 FIFA World Cup

The 48 teams for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico have been confirmed after the final qualifiers. DR Congo and Iraq secured the last spots, with Curacao, Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan making their debuts. Argentina enter as defending champions.

DR Congo qualified by defeating Jamaica in a play-off, where Axel Tuanzebe, the Burnley defender, scored the decisive goal from a corner in extra time. It marks their first appearance in 52 years. Iraq advanced alongside European play-off winners Turkiye, Czechia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Sweden, finalizing the field on April 1, 2026. 101GreatGoals.com detailed the groups and schedule, with all times in BST.

What people are saying

X users reacted to the final confirmation of 2026 FIFA World Cup groups after DR Congo and Iraq secured spots via playoffs. Positive sentiments celebrate debuts for Curacao, Cape Verde, Uzbekistan, and Jordan, alongside historic returns. Skepticism emerged over inclusion of smaller nations potentially leading to lopsided matches. Fans analyzed group strengths, noting easy draws for Argentina and tougher ones like England vs Croatia.

Related Articles

Dynamic night view of Estadio Akron stadium packed with fans during World Cup 2026 intercontinental playoff match kickoff in Mexico.
Image generated by AI

World Cup 2026 intercontinental playoffs kick off in Mexico

Reported by AI Image generated by AI

The FIFA intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 World Cup began on Thursday, March 26, in Guadalajara's Estadio Akron and Monterrey's Estadio BBVA, with New Caledonia vs. Jamaica at 9:00 p.m. and Bolivia vs. Surinam at 4:00 p.m. Mexico City time. These semifinals determine opponents for the March 31 finals against Iraq and DR Congo for the last two spots in the 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The 2026 World Cup opens on Thursday with Mexico facing South Africa at the Azteca Stadium. The tournament expands to 48 teams for the first time and runs across three host nations.

Reported by AI

The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins today in Canada, the USA and Mexico with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at 20:00 BST.

This website uses cookies

We use cookies for analytics to improve our site. Read our privacy policy for more information.
Decline