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World Cup 2026 draw delivers high-stakes matchups
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington DC set the stage for next summer's tournament, featuring historic clashes, debutant nations, and a surprise musical finale featuring US President Donald Trump.
Draw ceremony overshadows delays
The highly anticipated group-stage draw kicked off nearly 90 minutes behind schedule after a star-studded opening ceremony. Performances by Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, alongside speeches from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump, preceded the actual draw, which began at 18:27 GMT-over an hour after the broadcast started.
Trump later joined Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney on stage to announce their nations as co-hosts. The ceremony concluded with Trump dancing to the Village People's rendition of YMCA, capping an evening BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce joked could outlast the tournament itself.
England and Scotland face tough opponents
England will open their campaign against Croatia, a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final. Scotland, meanwhile, were drawn against five-time champions Brazil in Group B. The expanded 48-team format, introducing a round of 32 for the first time, diluted some group-stage quality, with only one matchup-England vs. Croatia-featuring two top-10 ranked teams.
Brazil's clash with Morocco (ranked 11th) in Group C is the next highest-profile fixture. The Netherlands face the toughest group on paper, drawn against Japan, Tunisia, and a playoff winner, while Germany landed the weakest, paired with Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curaçao.
Haaland vs. Mbappé headlines group stage
Norway's Erling Haaland and France's Kylian Mbappé will face off in Group I, pitting the Premier League's and La Liga's top scorers against each other. Haaland, who dragged Norway to their first World Cup since 1998 with 16 qualifying goals, will meet Mbappé's France in the group's final match.
"It will be a great duel. Kylian and Haaland are two of the contenders to be top scorer," said France coach Didier Deschamps.
Mbappé, two goals shy of France's all-time scoring record at 26, has netted 16 times in 15 league games this season for Real Madrid.
Debutants and historic rematches
Four nations-Uzbekistan, Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curaçao-will make their World Cup debuts. Curaçao, the smallest nation ever to qualify (population: 600,000), will face Germany in their opener. Cape Verde, meanwhile, were drawn against Spain in Group H.
Mexico will open the tournament against South Africa at Estadio Azteca, reprising their 2010 opener. France will also face Senegal, the team that stunned them in the 2002 tournament's first match.
Knockout stage promises blockbuster clashes
If top seeds advance, the round of 16 could feature a Germany-France rematch, their first since Germany's 2014 quarter-final victory. The quarter-finals might deliver a long-awaited showdown between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal-potentially their final World Cup meeting.
England, if they win their group, would face a third-placed team, with Scotland potentially meeting Japan or Tunisia in their first-ever knockout match.
