Football Heritage!: The 2026 FIFA World Cup groups are set, promising a blockbuster summer ahead

Which nation will wear this crown in the summer of 2026? (Image credits - Heute, Licence Details)

The biggest football competition is just a few months away, where nations fight for the ultimate crown in football – the FIFA World Cup. Excitement has kicked in as the groups are finally set, with each team waiting eagerly to dive into the intense action of the group stage.

Hosted jointly by the United States of America, Mexico and Canada over the course of five weeks in June and July, it promises a lot, as it's also the first-ever 48-team tournament.

Spain, France and Brazil face a mammoth challenge in the group stage, while the hosts, the US, Mexico, Portugal and Argentina, have managed to secure comparatively easier groups.

The group stages feature some intense clashes, especially the one between France and Norway, as Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are set to lock horns on the biggest stage.

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, the UEFA Play-off D winner (Denmark, the Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, North Macedonia)

The hosts enter this group as the favourites, and the massive home support would be a huge advantage. El Tri would aim to win the first game of the tournament and avoid complacency like they did back in 2022, due to which they couldn't reach the next round.

South Korea are an experienced side, having reached the RO16 last time, defeating European giants Portugal and drawing with Uruguay. On the other hand, South Africa are a passionate side but lack experience to topple the other giants in the group. The winner from the UEFA Play-off D isn't decided yet, but teams like the Czech Republic or Denmark are quite strong and therefore make decent candidates to finish as runners-up or even as group winners.

Favourites: Mexico / South Korea

Underdogs: South Africa

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, the UEFA Play-off A winner (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Co-hosts Canada has got a challenging group, especially because of competing with Switzerland – an experienced side in this competition – and could face another top team from Europe, like Italy or Wales. 

However, the hosts could rely on their home advantage and pull off their first ever qualification to the knockout rounds. Qatar couldn't fulfil their potential as hosts last time and would be heading into this group as the minnows.

Favourites: Switzerland / UEFA Play-off winner

Underdogs: Qatar

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

The group of death of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and probably the only group with no clear favourites. Brazil are historically the best team to grace the competition, have quality but lack experienced players and are going through a transition phase. Meanwhile, Morocco are a tactically drilled side which stunned the world by reaching the semi-final last time. They could very well upset the Selecao and reach for more glory in this tournament. 

Scotland are comparatively inexperienced, having qualified for this competition after decades, but are defensively solid and hold the capability to upset big teams. However, McTominay and co. could aim to finish as one of the best third-placed teams to progress. Haiti are the minnows in this group, lacking experience in international tournaments, but could aim to fight for the third spot.

Favourites: Morocco / Brazil

Underdogs: Haiti

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, the UEFA Play-off C winner (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo)

The hosts have been put into one of the most favourable yet challenging groups, and as hosts this is the best they could have asked for. They will have the crowd behind them, but do they have enough quality to go through this group? The South American giant killers – Paraguay is defensively solid and can upset the hosts easily, especially with quality players like Miguel Almiron and Julio Enciso.

On the other hand, Australia is also an experienced side of the competition and managed to stun Denmark last time and could do the same yet again by knocking the hosts on their own turf. Added to this, the winner of UEFA Play-off D, likely Turkey or Romania, are both strong European sides capable of upsetting the hosts.

Favourites: Australia / Winner of UEFA Play-off C

Underdogs: Paraguay

Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Four-time champions Germany would be desperate to win this group with a star-studded squad after failing to do so consecutively in 2018 and 2022. On their way would be first-timers Curaçao – they lack big names and firepower but are defensively structured and might cause a major upset.

Ecuador are one of the favourites from this group; they have conceded the fewest goals in the COMNEBOL qualifiers and are one of the dark horses of this tournament, tactically adept and defensively very difficult to crack open. Meanwhile, Ivory Coast brings an unpredictable element to this group, physically brilliant, which could pose a challenge for other teams in the group.

Favourites: Germany / Ecuador

Underdogs: Curaçao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, the UEFA Play-off B winner (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania), Tunisia

Group F is one of the most challenging groups, and it's all about tactical discipline, especially for the Netherlands and Japan. The Dutch possess a lot of quality in the midfield and have the talent to finish top of the group. However, Japan – the dark horses this time – have gradually improved each year, and they do not fear any opposition. Tactically structured and a high-intensity team that makes the Asian side one of the teams to beat this time.

Tunisia are the underdogs heading into this group, but they have the ability to frustrate opposition by defending deep for a long period of time. On the other hand, whoever emerges as the UEFA Play-off B winner, likely Poland or Ukraine, will be a well-structured team, which makes this group one of the most intense groups in the World Cup.

Favourites: Japan / Netherlands

Underdogs: Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

This group appears to be a tricky one for all the teams, especially for Belgium. They have gone past the days of the golden generation and are defensively vulnerable, which makes it quite difficult in such tournaments. However, they still possess enough attacking threat to qualify for the next round and erase the memories of the 2022 World Cup. 

Iran and Egypt are both tactically disciplined and defensively solid sides led by Mehdi Taremi and Mohammed Salah, respectively. These two sides are likely to fight for the runners-up spot or even the winners' spot if they can expose Belgium’s defensive weakness. New Zealand, featuring for the first time after 2010, would head into this group as the underdogs, and knowing that they have nothing to lose, we might be in for a massive upset caused by the unpredictable Kiwis.

Favourites: Belgium / Iran

Underdogs: New Zealand

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

Spain just cannot catch a break! La Roja have been placed into yet another tricky group this time. The European champions are clear favourites with the talent they have, but it won't be easy; Uruguay would be a tough match. The South American side has quality and thrives in chaos, which also makes them one of the favourites from this group.

Saudi Arabia has shown the world that they can upset big names last time. The Asian nation is known to defend deep and press smartly, and we might witness an even bigger shock from them. Cape Verde, playing for the first time, has nothing to lose, and after such an impressive qualifying campaign, they would look to achieve more history.

Favourites: Spain / Uruguay

Underdogs: Cape Verde

Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA Play-off 2 winner (Bolivia, Suriname), Norway

This is a group full of interesting narratives and mouthwatering football clashes, and the one to look out for would be France against Norway, as Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland would lock horns on the biggest stage in football. France appear to be clear favourites in this group, but the Norse Vikings have been brilliant in the qualifying stages and would fight for the top spot with the plethora of talent they possess.

Senegal are also one of the strongest African teams and have the experience of playing in big tournaments, causing upsets in the past as well. The fourth slot belongs to the underdogs, but the teams who have nothing to lose tend to become the most unpredictable.

Favourites: France / Norway

Underdogs: FIFA Play-off 2 winner

Group J:  Argentina,  Algeria,  Austria, Jordan

This group appears to be a comfortable one for the defending champions, Argentina, as they enter the competition as favourites yet again. Led by Leo Messi, the Albiceleste have enough firepower but must be wary of these teams in the group. Lionel Scaloni’s side has a weakness in the full-back positions, which could prove to be fatal.

Austria and Algeria may not possess much firepower, but they are built on grit and defensive resilience and could exploit a few cracks in the Argentine defence. Jordan are first-timers, and hence bring the unpredictable tag with them; they might even end up pulling off a major upset like Saudi Arabia last time.

Favourites: Argentina / Austria

Underdogs: Jordan

Group K: Portugal, the FIFA Play-off 1 winner (New Caledonia, Jamaica,  DR Congo), Uzbekistan, Colombia

This group is set to be quite intense, and the centre of attraction would be Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, a team with a star-studded midfield, attack and defence. They are the favourites to go through from this group just for the amount of quality they possess.

Colombia are a high-intensity side, with star players like Luis Diaz and James Rodrigues, and are defensively solid. The South American side is the only side from the group which could potentially trouble Ronaldo and co. Uzbekistan and the play-off winners are underdogs from this group, but the Central Asian team is disciplined and could cause a major upset, as they have nothing to lose from their debut appearance in the competition.

Favourites: Portugal / Colombia

Underdogs: Uzbekistan

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

The Three Lions head into this group as the clear favourites, especially with the star-studded squad they possess. Tuchel’s side is expected to dominate this group unless any major upset is caused. 

Croatia have troubled the Englishmen in the past, and they do have the tactical prowess under Zlatko Dalic, who has led them to the World Cup final in 2018 and semi-final in 2022. However, they're one of the oldest squads in the tournament, which could backfire in high-intensity games. Ghana and Panama are the underdogs from this group but promise good quality football.

Favourites: England / Croatia

Underdogs: Panama

FIFA World Cup 2026 opening game

The World Cup is just a few months away, and the draws have finally been concluded now. 104 games would be played in total for a span of almost two months. Mexico will play the first game of the tournament against South Africa in their group A clash on 11th June at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.