Mexico and South Africa will kick off the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America following the conclusion of the draw for the tournament at a ceremony in the United States on Friday.

Next year’s World Cup would be the first tournament to feature 48 teams following the expansion from the previous 32 countries by FIFA. The participating countries were divided into 12 groups (A-L), consisting of four nations each.

Group A will feature Mexico, South Africa, South Korea and one of the six countries that can still qualify for the World Cup through the playoffs pathway (winner of Play-off D), while Group B consists of the other co-hosts Canada, winner of Play-off A, Qatar and Switzerland. 

Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland are paired together in Group C; Group D includes third co-hosts United States, Paraguay, Australia and winner of Play-off C as Germany joins Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E.

For Group F, Netherlands, Japan, winner of Play-off B and Tunisia will face one another; Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand are drawn in Group, with Spain facing Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group G.

France will tackle Senegal in Group I where they are joined by the winner of Play-off 2 and Norway. Defending champions Argentina are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan. 

Meanwhile, Portugal are placed in Group K with the winner of Play-off 2, Uzbekistan and Colombia, while England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama will compete in Group L. 

The ceremony held at the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington, was graced by the presence of United President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.

As expected, Mr Trump was named the inaugural winner of the FIFA Peace Prize, citing the American leader’s efforts in resolving conflicts around the world, including the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Palestine to end the war in Gaza.