FIFA World Cup 2026 draw: Early talking points

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been made in Washington DC, and we now know who will be facing who at next summer’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, where a host of Premier League stars are set to feature.

This will be the biggest edition of the World Cup yet, with 48 countries divided into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group will advance to the knockout stage, along with the eight best third-placed teams, so there’s plenty to play for.

With 42 of the 48 qualifiers confirmed – there are four more places up for grabs through the UEFA playoffs, plus two via the inter-confederation FIFA Playoff Tournament – here’s how the 2026 World Cup, which begins on 11 June, shapes up.

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, European Playoff Winner D

The 2026 World Cup will all get underway in Mexico City, with Mexico taking on 2010 hosts South Africa. Those two nations will be joined by South Korea and either Czechia, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia.

Premier League players who could be involved in Group A include Fulham’s Mexican striker Raul Jimenez and Burnley’s South African forward Lyle Foster. South Korea great Son Heung-min is no longer plying his trade in the English top flight, but international teammate Hwang Hee-chan has 23 Premier League goals to his name for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Group B: Canada, European Playoff Winner A, Qatar, Switzerland

Canada will begin their third World Cup by facing either Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy and Northern Ireland. Qatar, qualifying for only the second time after hosting the 2022 World Cup, and Switzerland complete Group B.

AFC Bournemouth’s Daniel Jebbison is the only Canadian to appear in the Premier League this season, while Sunderland and Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka will be hoping to represent his nation at a fourth World Cup.

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Scotland’s first World Cup in 28 years pits them against two of the nations they played at their last finals in 1998, Brazil and Morocco. First up for Steve Clarke’s side, though, is Haiti.

As ever, there are plenty of Brazilians playing their club football in the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea each having three among their ranks. Manchester United’s Casemiro captains the record five-time world champions and could come up against one of his club teammates, Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui.

Scotland, as ever, are well-represented in the Premier League, with standout names including skipper Andy Robertson of Liverpool and Aston Villa’s John McGinn – while Wolves’ Jean-Ricner Bellegarde recently became the first Haitian to appear in the competition.

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, European Playoff Winner C

The United States will kick off their campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles, in the first World Cup meeting between the nations since the inaugural edition back in 1930, with Australia  either Slovakia, Turkey, Kosovo or Romania completing the Group D line-up.

Among the big American names playing in the Premier League right now are Bournemouth’s Tyler Adams and Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, while Paraguay are represented by the likes of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Diego Gomez and Man Utd youngster Diego Leon.

Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Four-time World Cup winners Germany are joined in Group E by debutants Curacao, the Ivory Coast and Ecuador.

Newcastle United’s German teammates Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade will have their sights set on playing at a first World Cup, as will Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz – who missed the 2022 tournament through injury.

Arsenal’s Kai Havertz represented the nation in 2022 and could come up against club colleague Piero Hincapie of Ecuador, while Man Utd’s Amad is a regular for the Ivory Coast.

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, European Playoff B Winner, Tunisia

Group F features three-time World Cup runners-up the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and either Ukraine, Poland, Sweden or Albania.

The Premier League has its fair share of Dutch players right now, four of whom play for Liverpool: captain Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo. They could find themselves on the opposing side to fellow Reds player Wataru Endo, who wears the armband for Japan.

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Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand make up Group G, with a potential Premier League indidivual match-up in the opening game between Manchester City’s Belgian winger Jeremey Doku and Liverpool star and Egypt skipper Mohamed Salah.

Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood is New Zealand’s all-time record goalscorer and captains his country, while no Iranian players are currently registered to a Premier League club.

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

Former world champions Spain and Uruguay will do battle with Saudi Arabia and first-time qualifiers Cape Verde in Group H.

Neither Cape Verde nor Saudi Arabia have any Premier League representatives at present, but Spain’s probable squad members include Arsenal trio Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino and David Raya – in addition to Man City star Rodri. Meanwhile, three Uruguayans have featured in the competition this term: Manuel Ugarte, Rodrigo Bentancur and Santiago Bueno for Man Utd, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves respectively.

Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Playoff Winner 2, Norway

A strong-looking Group I will begin with a repeat of the 2002 World Cup’s opening match, when Senegal stunned reigning champions France. The pair are joined by Norway either Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq.

Two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland will be aiming to make a big impact at his first World Cup for Norway, while France’s squad could include the likes of Arsenal’s William Saliba, Chelsea’s Malo Gusto, and Liverpool colleagues Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate.

Senegal’s most recent squad contained a number of Premier League players, among them Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Everton teammates Idrissa Gueye and Iliman Ndiaye.

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

World Cup holders Argentina will commence the defence of their crown against Algeria, before taking on Austria and newcomers Jordan in Group J.

A host of Argentines currently play on the Premier League stage – including 2022 champions such as Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, Man Utd’s Lisandro Martinez and Spurs captain Cristian Romero, who could face club teammate Kevin Danso of Austria.

Group K: Portugal, FIFA Playoff Winner 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia

Portugal, debutants Uzbekistan, and Colombia have been drawn into Group K, where they’ll be joined by either New Caledonia, Jamaica or DR Congo.

Manchester should be well-represented in this group, with Portugal’s regulars including City’s Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes and Bernardo Silva, and United skipper Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot.

City’s Abdukodir Khusanov was the first Uzbek player to appear in the Premier League and is his nation’s star man, while Colombia’s most recent squad included Palace duo Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma.

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

England’s quest for a first World Cup since 1966 begins against Croatia – who knocked the Three Lions out in the semi-finals in 2018. Ghana and Panama – the latter of whom were in the same group as England at that same World Cup, their only previous appearance – round off Group L.

As usual, the vast majority of the England squad are based in the Premier League – with Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka, Chelsea’s Reece James and Man City’s Phil Foden just some of the big names who will hope to play a prominent part in their nation’s campaign.

Foden could come face-to-face with his Croatian club colleagues Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, while Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Spurs' Mohammed Kudus will be hoping to guide the Black Stars to heights reminiscent of Ghana's 2010 run.