In a globally watched event, the draw for next year’s World Cup set the stage for Argentina and Lionel Messi to kick off their title defense against Algeria. Teams ranging from five-time champions Brazil to newcomers like Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan now know their group stage opponents for the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament scheduled to begin on June 11 in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Canada was placed in Group B and will compete against Switzerland, 2022 host Qatar, and the winner of a playoff in March involving Italy, Bosnia, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Dick Advoccat, the 78-year-old Dutch manager leading Curacao, expressed excitement for his team’s opener against four-time champion Germany, highlighting the pride of the island’s population.
During the draw ceremony, U.S. President Donald Trump received a peace prize from FIFA, with Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney each selecting balls representing their countries. The event also featured famous North American athletes like Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge, and Wayne Gretzky assisting in the draw.
Argentina, the three-time champion, will kick off on June 16, facing Austria and Jordan in Group J. The U.S. will start its campaign against Paraguay in Group D on June 12, followed by matches against Australia and Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo. Mexico will host the tournament opener against South Africa in Group A at Azteca Stadium on June 11.
Forty-two teams have been confirmed for the tournament, with 22 teams set to compete in playoffs for the remaining six spots by March 31. The tournament format will see winners and second-place finishers from the 12 groups advancing to the round of 32, along with the top eight third-place teams. The quarterfinals and beyond will all take place in the U.S., culminating in the final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Key matchups include England facing Croatia, Ghana, and Panama in Group L, Brazil taking on Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland in Group C, and Spain meeting Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H. Notably, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is set to play in his sixth World Cup, with Group K matches against Uzbekistan, Colombia, and Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.