With the FIFA World Cup 2026 beginning on 11 June in Mexico City, all 12 groups are set and the race to qualify for the Round of 32 is ready to begin. Here is a detailed preview of all 12 groups — who we expect to advance, the dark horses to watch, and the defining matches in each group.
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, Czechia, South Africa
Favourites to advance: Mexico, South Korea
Group A opens the entire tournament with host nation Mexico facing South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on 11 June. Mexico's home advantage could be decisive across the group stage, and they are clear favourites to top the group. South Korea are the second major force, combining tactical sophistication with quality European-based players.
Czechia are technically capable and could surprise — their defensive organisation may cause problems for Mexico in what should be a tight second match. South Africa, making their return after 2010, will be passionate but face the toughest task in qualifying.
Key match: Mexico vs South Korea will likely determine who tops the group.
Dark horse: South Africa — playing with the freedom of underdogs on what is essentially a home continent.
Group B: Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
Favourites to advance: Canada, Switzerland
Canada enter as co-hosts riding enormous momentum and home support in Toronto and Vancouver. With world-class players at Premier League and European clubs, they have the tools to top the group. Switzerland, consistently one of Europe's most reliable tournament sides, should claim second place.
Bosnia-Herzegovina bring creative attacking quality that could exploit Switzerland's occasional defensive vulnerability. Qatar, the 2022 hosts, are the weakest team in the group on paper but showed in 2022 that their work rate and organisation can cause problems.
Key match: Canada vs Switzerland will determine the group winner.
Dark horse: Bosnia-Herzegovina, whose attacking quality could threaten any team on their day.
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Favourites to advance: Brazil, Morocco
Group C is one of the most anticipated at the tournament. Brazil, with five World Cup titles and the most talented squad in CONMEBOL, are overwhelming group favourites. Morocco — fresh from their historic 2022 semi-final — are one of the most exciting teams in world football and are clear second favourites.
Scotland end a 28-year World Cup absence but face an extremely difficult path through this group. Haiti make their World Cup debut and will fight for every point. The real contest is for second place, where Morocco and Scotland could produce a fascinating tactical battle.
Key match: Brazil vs Morocco — potentially a preview of the competition's most intriguing knockout tie.
Dark horse: Scotland — they will not roll over for anyone and could take points from Morocco with a disciplined defensive display.
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye
Favourites to advance: United States, Türkiye
The USMNT on home soil, backed by massive American crowds in Los Angeles and Seattle, carry enormous expectation. Their golden generation of European-based players makes them one of the tournament's most dangerous co-hosts in history. Türkiye — whose best result was third place in 2002 — bring technical quality and have been steadily building towards a strong tournament.
Australia and Paraguay are capable of taking points from anyone. Australia's 2022 momentum was real, and Paraguay's defensive resilience makes them difficult opponents. This is a genuinely open group where the margins between second, third, and fourth could be minimal.
Key match: United States vs Türkiye — the match that will likely determine who tops the group.
Dark horse: Australia, who have quietly built a strong squad and will be dangerous in their second group stage at a World Cup.
Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Curaçao
Favourites to advance: Germany, Ivory Coast
Germany arrive desperate to erase the memory of consecutive group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022. They have the talent, depth, and experience to dominate this group — but German sides have surprised us before. Ivory Coast, one of Africa's most talented nations with world-class attacking players, are strong second favourites.
Ecuador are a well-organised South American side who opened the 2022 tournament with a win and know how to perform on the big stage. Curaçao make their historic debut and will be inspired but face a steep challenge competing at this level.
Key match: Germany vs Ivory Coast — a technically rich game that will determine who tops this group.
Dark horse: Ecuador — underestimated but direct, quick, and organised.
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Favourites to advance: Netherlands, Japan
This is the most open group in the tournament. Netherlands are strong favourites with their deep squad of elite club players — but Japan proved in Qatar 2022 that they can beat the best, defeating both Germany and Spain. Japan's high-press, high-intensity style will challenge every team in this group.
Sweden bring European discipline and physical presence that could cause problems for both Netherlands and Japan. Tunisia, one of Africa's most experienced World Cup nations, will be defensively sound and dangerous on the break.
Key match: Netherlands vs Japan — the match that could define Group F and produce the tournament's first genuine shock.
Dark horse: Japan — they have already beaten European giants at a World Cup and will fear nobody.
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Favourites to advance: Belgium, Egypt
Belgium are in a transitional period but still possess world-class quality and are comfortable favourites to top Group G. Egypt, with talent across European leagues and fanatical support, are expected to take second.
Iran, Asia's most frequent World Cup participants, are well-organised and disciplined — they could take points from Belgium with a defensive display and deadly counter-attack. New Zealand, reaching a rare World Cup through OFC competition, will be spirited underdogs.
Key match: Belgium vs Egypt — whoever wins this will likely top the group.
Dark horse: Iran, who are difficult to beat and could exploit Belgium's occasional lapses in concentration.
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Favourites to advance: Spain, Uruguay
Spain are one of the two or three strongest favourites for the entire tournament and should top Group H with relative comfort. Uruguay, two-time world champions and always dangerous, should take second with their characteristic resilience and quality in attack.
Saudi Arabia caused the World Cup's greatest recent upset by defeating Argentina in 2022 and cannot be overlooked. Cape Verde make their World Cup debut as one of football's great underdog stories.
Key match: Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia — a fascinating match between two physical, competitive teams that could determine second place.
Dark horse: Saudi Arabia — they have shown they can defeat world champions. Do not underestimate them.
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway
Favourites to advance: France, Senegal
France enter as one of the two strongest favourites to win the entire tournament. Their extraordinary squad depth — arguably the best in world football — makes them comfortable Group I favourites. Senegal, the African champions, are technically rich and physically powerful and are expected to take second place.
Norway, powered by one of Europe's most prolific strikers, qualify for a rare World Cup and could threaten Senegal for second. Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 in a remarkable achievement for their football programme.
Key match: Senegal vs Norway — a fascinating tactical battle for second place in the group.
Dark horse: Norway — their striker's goal-scoring record makes them dangerous from any position in the group.
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Favourites to advance: Argentina, Austria
Defending champions Argentina are clear Group J favourites. Their squad, built around the world's best players with European club experience, should advance comfortably. Austria have been one of Europe's most improved national sides, playing attractive attacking football, and are expected to take second.
Algeria — capable of brilliant performances against quality opposition, as their 2014 campaign showed — could push Austria hard. Jordan make their World Cup debut in North America, a landmark achievement for football in the Arab world.
Key match: Algeria vs Austria — the key battle for second place in this group.
Dark horse: Algeria — they have the attacking quality to surprise Austria and push for qualification.
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
Favourites to advance: Portugal, Colombia
Portugal, consistently one of Europe's best tournament sides, should advance comfortably from Group K. Colombia — Copa América 2024 runners-up — play attractive, technical football and are expected to take second.
DR Congo bring technical quality from across African leagues and could cause problems for Colombia if their best players perform. Uzbekistan make their World Cup debut as Central Asia's rising football force.
Key match: Portugal vs Colombia — a clash of European and South American quality that could be one of the group stage's most entertaining matches.
Dark horse: Colombia — they finished Copa América 2024 as runners-up and arrive with genuine tournament momentum.
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Favourites to advance: England, Croatia
England enter as genuine tournament favourites with their deepest squad in decades. They should top Group L. Croatia — runners-up in 2018, third place in 2022 — are transitioning to a new generation but have the experience and quality to take second.
Ghana, who came within a penalty of the 2010 semi-finals, have rebuilt with European-based talent and will be competitive. Panama are disciplined and physically robust but face the steepest challenge.
Key match: England vs Croatia — a rematch of the 2018 semi-final and likely the decisive match in Group L.
Dark horse: Ghana — their 2010 generation showed what African football can do when everything comes together.