For soccer fans world wide, Dec. 5 was the day that surpasses all others. The World Cup draw has been held and we now know the groups, matchups and venues for the coveted golden trophy in 2026.
The World Cup soccer championship will be held in more than a dozen cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada next June – including Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
The United States men’s national team has already been placed in Group D as a host and learned its three opponents in the draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The other host nations – Canada and Mexico – also were among the 42 countries in the draw. The final six spots will be decided in March’s qualification playoffs.
Here are the other countries that have qualified in the expanded 48-nation field.
AFC: Australia, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
CAF: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
OFC: New Zealand
UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland.
US in Group D with Australia, Paraguay, European Playoff C
The U.S. will open the World Cup vs. Paraguay June 12th at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. It will play Australia in the second round on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle. A lot of soccer pundits think this is a good draw for the Americans. Paraguay is not a powerhouse and the U.S. team defeated Australia 2-1 in October. The teams competing in European Playoff C are Turkey, Slovakia, Romania and Kosovo with the winner of that group facing the U.S. on June 25 back at SoFi.
Mexico, Korea Republic, South Africa, European Playoff D in Group A
The host nation gets Korea in opening match. Mexico is led by striker Raúl Jiménez and 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, whom every soccer club in the world seems to be after.
Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, European Playoff A in Group B
The host team gets a tough Switzerland in the opening match. But the Canadians are greatly improved under their new coach, Jesse Marsch.
Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti in Group C
Be nice to see Brazil playing in South Florida.
Germany, Ecuador, Cote d’Ivoire, Curaçao in Group E
Germany has won four World Cups.
Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European Playoff B in Group F
Netherlands defeated Lithuania 4-0 to clinch its berth in the World Cup.
Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand in Group G
Belgium is only national team to top the FIFA ranking to never have won a World Cup.
Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cabo Verde in Group H
Be nice to see Spain in South Florida, especially after the Dolphins played in Madrid.
France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Playoff 2 in Group I
France has won two World Cups.
Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan in Group J
Two words: Lionel Messi.
Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, FIFA Playoff 1 in Group K
Columbia to South Florida?
England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana in Group L
Some see England going through without a problem with a somewhat easy draw.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: World Cup 2026 draw has United States playing Paraguay in first round
Reporting by Nick Pugliese, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
