As it happened: 2026 FIFA World Cup draw sets the stage for summer’s tournament

Brazil fans are excited on social media about one coincidence: the past two World Cup champions, France and Argentina, also launched their title-winning campaigns from Group C.

Group C was also Brazil’s group in their latest title in 2002.

Morocco, Haiti and Scotland are also in Group C for this summer’s tournament.

The 33-year-old actor — and draw co-host — is known for “Top Gun: Maverick,” “The Last of Us” and “Captain America: Brave New World.”

Ramirez spoke with the AP last month about the importance of soccer in his life and Hollywood career.

Recalling his team’s experience on the road to winning the 2022 trophy, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said it’s unwise to be celebrating the teams they will face in next year’s group stage.

The defending champions will take on Austria, Jordan and Algeria in Group J.

“Remember what happened to us against Saudi Arabia?” Scaloni jokingly asked journalists.

Argentina lost that group stage match 2-1, but after making several changes to the starting lineup, it went on to win the title.

“We will have to play our best at every match, so there’s no rest,” he said. “We know that in our flesh.”

Spain was paired with Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde.

“People think there are easy groups, but it is a very similar level,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “This will be a historic World Cup because there’s an exceptional level all-round. These games force you to play at your best.”

France coach Didier Deschamps said his team will have to play its best in all of its Group I matches to advance.

France is set to take on Senegal and Norway, with a third rival coming from the playoffs.

“We know this is a very tough group, we cannot rest,” said Deschamps, a World Cup winner as team captain in 1998 and as coach in 2018.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui said he aims at topping Group C of the 2026 World Cup, which is headlined by Brazil. Morocco made it to the semifinals in 2022 before losing to France.

“We want to try to win the group or at least get through to the next phase,” Regragui told TV Globo. “Since the 2022 World Cup, everyone wants to beat us.”

The Moroccan coach added his team’s match against the five-time champions “will be one of the greatest matches of the World Cup.”

Brazil and Scotland have faced each other four times at the World Cup – and also four of the last six times Scotland has qualified. They’re again in the same group this summer.

In 1974, the two teams played to a goalless draw. Brazil won 4-1 in 1982, 1-0 in 1990 and 2-1 in 1998. Scotland has never advanced past the group stage.

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)

“This will give great visibility to my national team,” said Haiti coach Sébastien Migné. “The match against Brazil will be undoubtedly tough.”

Migné was in Cameroon’s coaching staff in the 2022 World Cup, and his team beat an already qualified Brazilian team 1-0 in the final minutes of their group stage match.

Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre said that not knowing one of their rivals for the World Cup would be a challenge for one of the host nations.

“We recently played Korea, we know South Africa very well, but the Europeans (in the playoff) are very different, I will put my assistants to work and analyze them all to find opponents that resemble them,” Aguirre said.

Aguirre, in his third stint as Mexico’s coach, was at the helm when Mexico played South Africa at the 2010 inaugural match.

Mexico’s captain Edson Álvarez said that his team can go far in the World Cup.

“I’m happy because we have faced those rivals before,” Alvarez said to TUDN of his team’s group. The team will face South Korea, South Africa and one playoff winner.

Álvarez said that playing at home will also help the Mexican team try to emulate its best historical results, reaching the quarterfinals in the previous World Cups played in Mexico in 1970 and 1986.

“You feel a responsibility as one of the hosts to open this great event,” Álvarez said. “We rely on the extra support the fans give us, and opening the event against South Africa helps, and we can do great things.”

Speaking to journalists in Washington, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said Morocco has “a solid squad” that did well in the latest World Cup.

“The first game will be very important,” Ancelotti said. The coach added that friendlies against France and Croatia will tell which players he will take to the World Cup.

“It will be sort of my final list,” he said.

Ancelotti also said playing in the East Coast could bring a heat problem for teams based there.

Brazil’s soccer confederation chairman Samir Xaud said he approved of his team’s group in the World Cup and its possible host cities in the East Coast.

Brazil will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. Xaud added it will be up for coach Carlo Ancelotti whether Brazil will be based around Boston for the tournament.

Xaud also said Brazil will play friendlies in the U.S. against France and Croatia next year as the final stage of preparations.

Four European teams will qualify via the UEFA playoffs, while the additional two FIFA playoffs will include teams from all over the world.

The competing teams in each playoff are as follows.

UEFA Playoff A: Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina

UEFA Playoff B: Ukraine, Sweden, Poland and Albania.

UEFA Playoff C: Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo

UEFA Playoff D: Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic and Ireland

FIFA Playoff 1: New Caledonia, Jamaica and Congo

FIFA Playoff 2: Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq

Village People drew a loud round of applause — including from President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump — as the iconic disco group closed out the ceremony with a spirited performance of “Y.M.C.A.,” one of the most recognizable sing-along anthems in global pop culture.

It’s not because they believe they can win, but because Brazil is the team many have traditionally supported during the more than 50 years Haiti hasn’t qualified for the Cup.

“It is a dream of all Haitians to see Haiti face Brazil in the World Cup and even win because it is football,” said Jean Wisner, who plays for Port-au-Prince’s Don Bosco FC.

Residents in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince praised the sense of pride their team has given them by qualifying for this summer’s World Cup. Haiti, which has long been plagued by gang wars, homelessness and hunger, last qualified for the tournament in 1974.

Jocenlin Henry, 33, said many people thought it would be impossible for Haiti to qualify for the World Cup – equating the achievement to the independence revolution that made Haiti the first free Black republic in Latin America.

“The guys have proven they can succeed, and we will fight to win the title,” Henry said Friday. “It’s an incredible milestone.”

Jean Wisner is a player with Port-au-Prince’s Don Bosco FC.

“It will be a good time for us to raise the country’s flag high, despite everything happening in the country,” Wisner said. “I think it would be even more proud for us to join the United States in winning this competition, to show Donald Trump, the president of the United States, that violence isn’t the only thing in our country; we have football and a lot of talent.”

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.

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, UEFA Playoff D

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay, UEFA Playoff C

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B

Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA 2

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, FIFA 1

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

If Italy makes the World Cup, it would open against host Canada in Group B.

Brazil’s second group C match will be against Haiti, a team they beat 6-0 in Port-au-Prince in 2004 in a storied friendly with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho that was named “the game of peace.”

The match took place during one of Haiti’s many political crises. Since then, many Haitians have started migrating to Brazil.

Government data says there are between 150,000 and 200,000 Haitians living in Brazil.

Italy has missed out on the last two World Cups and must get through the playoffs to make it to the next edition.

But if it does, it will likely fancy its chances to advance to the knockout phase after being drawn in a group with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland

Group D: United States, Australia, Paraguay

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt

Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama

Scotland has famously never made it past the group stage at the World Cup, and it won’t be easy this time. They are in Group C with Brazil and Morocco. This will be the fifth time the Scots will face Brazil at a World Cup.

The highest-ranked team in pot 3, Norway, is in Group I with France and Senegal.

Group I is shaping up as a “group of death” with France, Senegal and Norway so far.

Brazil, Morocco and Scotland will be in a group together — just as they were in 1998.

That was the last time Scotland qualified for a World Cup. The Tartan Army finished last in the group that time.

Mexico has played South Africa once in World Cup history, at the inaugural match of the 2010 World Cup, a 1-1 draw that was also played on June 11.

The Mexican team back then was coached by Javier Aguirre, who is at the helm now for a third time.

In that match, former Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez scored for the Mexican side. Marquez now is an assistant in the national team.

The match will be the first official one at the Azteca stadium that has been closed for renovations since May 2024.

The South American side was drawn into Group D with the U.S. and will meet in Los Angeles.

This also ensures the U.S. will be put with one of the European placeholders from pot 4.

The Croatians beat England in the semifinals in 2018.

But the draw does mean England cannot be drawn in the same group as Norway and Erling Haaland, at least.

The team could play as many as two games in Vancouver.

Iran must play its first game in either Inglewood or Seattle in Group G, which also includes Belgium. The United States currently has a travel ban on Iranian residents entering the country.

Group A: Mexico, South Korea
Group B: Canada, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Group D: United States, Australia
Group E: Germany, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan
Group G: Belgium, Iran
Group H: Spain, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal
Group J: Portugal, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia

France and Senegal meet again after the defending champion French were upset by Senegal in their dreadful title defense in 2002.

Also, Group H already has two previous champions in Spain and Uruguay.

Australia, the lowest-ranked team in pot 2, joins Group D with the U.S. Croatia, the highest-ranked team in pot 2, joins England in Group L.

France will open its World Cup against Senegal — just as it did as defending champion in 2002 when the African team pulled off a stunning 1-0 win against the defending champions.

The two nations are paired together again next year. Could another upset be on the cards?

Morocco was one of the stories of the last World Cup by becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals.

Its first game in next year’s tournament will be Brazil.

Longtime rivals France and Germany – who played a famous semifinal in 1982 – could meet as early as the round of 16 this time, should each win its group.

France was drawn into Group I, with Germany in Group E.

Heidi Klum teased the crowd with “we’re not done yet” before she and Kevin Hart welcomed a lineup of sports icons. Hart introduced hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge.

Klum followed by bringing out NBA giant Shaquille O’Neal — whose 7-foot-1 frame towered over Hart’s 5-foot-5 stature — before rounding out the group with the NFL’s Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion.

Brazil was the first team drawn from the pot of top seeds and goes into Group C — an East Coast pool where the five-time champion’s first two games could be in Foxborough.

The detailed schedule will be announced Saturday.

Backed by a full band, Lauryn Hill set the tone with vibrant renditions of her classics “Lost Ones” and “Doo Wop (That Thing).”

During the performance, the eight-time Grammy winner paid tribute to Bob Marley, noting his love for soccer, before bringing out his son, YG Marley, for a seamless blend of reggae and soul.

Americans may call it soccer, but it is commonly accepted that the word was actually coined in Britain, perhaps as far back as the 1880s.

It is believed “soccer” was derived from “association football,” which was the first official name of the sport. The nickname may have first been used by pupils at the iconic Harrow School in Britain.

▶ Read more: The origins of the word “soccer”

Trump drew applause from the crowd as he said that soccer in the U.S. should “really be called” football.

“We seem to never call it that because we have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that’s called football,” he said.

“When you think about it, shouldn’t it really be called — I mean, this is football, there’s no question,” he said of soccer. “But we have to come up with another name.”

“It doesn’t make sense when you think about it,” he went on.

Trump also recalled watching Brazilian soccer legend Pelé play for the New York Cosmos.

“I was pretty young at that point, and who knew this was going to happen,” Trump said.

The draw has officially begun, with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump picking their teams for Groups A, B and D.

This was ceremonial — the host teams’ placement in those groups was determined in advance.

Trump thanked his family and first lady Melania Trump as he accepted the FIFA peace prize. He also thanked Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for their “coordination and friendship and relationship.”

“But most importantly, I just want to thank everybody,” Trump continued.

FIFA announced the introduction of its peace prize on Nov. 5, about a month after the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to María Corina Machado, a pro-democracy activist in Venezuela. Machado will receive her award at the annual prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 10.

Williams and Scherzinger delivered a rousing performance of FIFA’s official hymn, “Desire,” earning them a standing ovation.

Williams, a FIFA music ambassador, rose to fame with the pop group Take That before launching a blockbuster solo career marked by numerous multi-platinum albums.

Scherzinger, a singer, actress and television personality, is best known as the lead vocalist of the Pussycat Dolls and a judge on “The Masked Singer.”

The president wore a medal around his neck and stood near a gold trophy on stage that depicted hands holding up the world and bore his name.

Infantino stood on the other side of the trophy and lauded Trump for his efforts to try to settle global conflicts.

He said Trump had worked to obtain peace “in your way, but you obtained it in an incredible way.”

He assured Trump “You can always count on my support.”

The award gave the draw even more of a Trumpian flair.

Trump, who has openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Price, had been heavily favored to win the newly created FIFA prize.

He and FIFA President Gianni Infantino are close allies, and Infantino had made it clear that he thought Trump should have won the Nobel for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

In addition to singing at the opening of the World Cup draw, Bocelli will give another performance for Trump at the White House later Friday.

Bocelli is a longtime favorite of Trump’s. His songs are often on the soundtrack at Trump’s rallies, and he sang for Trump during a visit to the Oval Office in October.

Kevin Hart is co-hosting the ceremony and turning it into a global comedy club.

Right after FIFA president Gianni Infantino playfully blocked him from hugging co-host Heidi Klum, Hart launched into a very American debate: “Is it football… or soccer?”

The crowd laughed. Infantino did the fake tough-guy walk-off. And Kevin doubled down like only he can, cracking jokes while millions watched around the world.