Today at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, DC, the drawing events for the 2026 World Cup were held, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

The presidents of the three host countries for the tournament, US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, participated in the drawing of lots.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a speech before the start of the draw ceremony, during which he welcomed the US President, the President of Mexico, and the Canadian Prime Minister.

The FIFA President stressed that this edition of the World Cup will be unique and exceptional, saying: “The 2026 World Cup will be the largest sporting event humanity has ever witnessed. We have 3 wonderful countries and 16 host cities… an exciting, unique, and amazing summer awaits us.”

Lottery results

The draw resulted in balanced and difficult groups, and the results were as follows:

Group A: (Mexico, South Africa, South Korea) + Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, or the Republic of Ireland (a team that qualifies through the European playoff).

Group Two: (Canada, Qatar, Switzerland) + Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, or Bosnia and Herzegovina (a team that qualifies through the European playoff).

Group Three: (Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland).

Group Four: (America, Paraguay, Australia) + Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo (a team that qualifies through the European playoff).

Group Five: (Germany, Caracao, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire).

Group Six: (Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia) + Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania (a team that qualifies through the European playoff).

Group Seven: (Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand).

Group Eight: (Spain, Cape Verde, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia).

Group Nine: (France, Senegal, Norway) + Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname (a team that qualifies through the global playoff).

Group Ten: (Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan).

Group Eleven: (Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan) + Democratic Republic of Congo, New Caledonia, or Jamaica (a team that qualifies through the global playoff).

Group Twelve: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.

The opening match

The dates for the group stage matches and stadiums will be determined tomorrow, Saturday. Mexico will open the World Cup with the opening match against South Africa on June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca.

As for the final match, it will be held on July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the third largest stadium in the tournament, with a capacity of 82,500 spectators. The stadium hosted the 2025 Club World Cup final.

Mexico will play two matches in Mexico City – including the opening match – and one in Guadalajara; Canada will play the first match in Toronto and the other two matches in Vancouver; While the United States will begin its campaign and conclude the group in Los Angeles, then travel to Seattle to play the second match.

Global Supplement

Six teams will compete for the remaining two places in the global playoff competitions: Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname.

European play-off matches

First match:

First semi-final: Italy vs. Northern Ireland

Second semi-final: Wales vs Bosnia (home final)

Second match:

First semi-final: Ukraine vs Sweden (home final)

Second semi-final: Poland vs. Albania

Third match:

First semi-final: Türkiye vs. Romania

Second semi-final: Slovakia vs Kosovo (home final)

Key 4:

First semi-final: Denmark vs. North Macedonia

Second semi-final: Czech Republic vs. Republic of Ireland (home final)

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