FIFA World Cup 2026: Groups
When the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, it will be in a new format. The competition has been expanded to include 48 teams divided into 12 groups.
You can read more about the World Cup groups and the new format here.
The 12 World Cup Groups
You can find the 12 groups here. They will, of course, be updated after the draw on December 5, 2025.
World Cup 2026: New format and more drama than ever
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be a historic event, with three nations hosting the tournament – the United States, Canada and Mexico. For the first time, 48 national teams will compete for football’s most prestigious title. The tournament will be played from June 11 to July 19, 2026 , and will be the largest and longest World Cup finals ever.
A record-breaking championship
The new format means that the number of participating teams will increase from 32 to 48. These will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each . This will retain the classic group structure, but the tournament will be expanded dramatically:
- A total of 104 matches will be played (compared to previously 64).
- Teams that make it all the way to the semi-finals/final will play 8 games (previously 7).
- The playoffs begin with a new round of 32 teams .
The top two teams in each group, as well as the eight best third-place teams , advance to the knockout rounds. The idea is to maintain the excitement right through, but several critics have pointed out that the number of matches is too high and that the quality of the championship is, at worst, diluted.
FIFA itself believes the expansion will give more nations the chance to experience the magic of the World Cup.
The first groups are ready
It has been decided in advance that the three host nations Mexico, Canada and the United States will be placed in groups A, B and C, respectively.
These are then divided into their own groups as top-seeded teams. The rest of the field is filled through qualification, where teams from all parts of the world fight for the remaining spots.
Of the 13 teams already qualified, 10 of them also participated in Qatar 2022. At the same time, we get debutants in Jordan and Uzbekistan , who will make their debuts on the biggest stage.
The solution that had to give way
In 2017, FIFA adopted a different solution from the current one. Namely, 16 groups with 3 teams in each. This would have resulted in a total of 80 matches, with two teams from each group advancing to the round of 16. However, the plan was quickly criticized – partly because of the risk of match-fixing or betting in the last group match. Therefore, the proposal was scrapped, and instead, the current solution with 12 groups of four teams was adopted.
Historical framework
The tournament also returns to its traditional summer format after the Qatar World Cup, which was held in November/December 2022.
At the same time, this becomes:
- Mexico’s third time as World Cup host (1970, 1986 and now 2026).
- The United States’ second time (1994 and 2026).
- Canada’s very first time as a World Cup host.
The final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, one of the largest facilities in the world with seating for nearly 90,000 spectators.
What does the new format mean?
For fans, it means more matches, more stories and more opportunities to follow their team. For players, it means one more match to reach the final, while the total length of the tournament is extended to 39 days (up from 32 previously). FIFA has deliberately planned for the same total period for players and clubs as previous tournaments, to avoid conflict with the club calendar.
The 2026 World Cup will be bigger, longer and more comprehensive than ever before. With three host nations, 48 teams and a whopping 104 matches in World Cup stadiums across the three host nations, football fans around the world will be treated to a mammoth tournament. The first groups have already been drawn, and much more excitement awaits as the qualifiers fill in the rest of the World Cup field.
