The World Cup draw on Friday set the stage for the 48-team tournament, revealing that defending champion Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, will kick off its campaign against Algeria, while the United States will face Paraguay in its opening match.
The draw, held 27 months after qualifying began, outlined the paths for teams ranging from five-time winner Brazil to first-time participants Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, begins June 11.
Curaçao coach Dick Advocaat, preparing for an opening match against four-time champion Germany, said the moment was a source of pride for the island’s 150,000 residents.
The ceremony at the Kennedy Center — held as snow fell in Washington — also featured U.S. President Donald Trump receiving a newly created FIFA peace award. Trump, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney each selected their nations’ draw balls, with Sheinbaum receiving the warmest applause.
A star-studded pre-show, nearly as long as a full soccer match, featured appearances from Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge and Wayne Gretzky. New Zealand was the final team drawn.
U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams, watching from England, said the event already felt distinctly American, anticipating the celebrity presence and entertainment that will accompany the tournament.
Argentina will play its first match on June 16 in either Kansas City, Missouri, or Santa Clara, California, before meeting Austria and Jordan in Group J. The Albiceleste famously lost their 2022 opener to Saudi Arabia before rallying to win the title on penalties against France.
Messi, who turns 39 during the tournament, has not formally confirmed his participation, though coach Lionel Scaloni expects him to play.
The U.S. begins Group D play June 12 in Inglewood, California, followed by games against Australia in Seattle and a final group match on June 25 at SoFi Stadium against Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo — whichever team advances through playoffs. The Americans recently played friendlies with all three confirmed opponents.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed optimism, stating the team’s goal bluntly: “Win the World Cup.”
Mexico will host the opening match on June 11 at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, facing South Africa in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener. South Korea and one of several European contenders await El Tri later in Group A.
Forty-two tournament slots are set; 22 teams remain in playoff contention for the final six spots, to be decided March 31. Group winners, runners-up and the eight best third-place teams will move on to a newly expanded round of 32. All knockout games from the quarterfinals onward will take place in the U.S., with the final set for July 19 in New Jersey.
England will face Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L, with manager Thomas Tuchel noting the challenges of heat, humidity and time-zone changes.
Brazil opens Group C against Morocco, followed by matches with Haiti and Scotland. Spain will take on Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H. Germany meets Curaçao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in Group E.
France begins its Group I campaign on June 16 against Senegal in New Jersey or Massachusetts, rekindling memories of its surprise 2002 opening loss to the same opponent. Les Bleus later face Bolivia, Iraq or Suriname, then finish with a high-profile clash against Norway featuring Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will play Uzbekistan, Colombia and the winner of a playoff involving Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia in Group K. A potential quarterfinal between Portugal and Argentina looms if both teams win their groups.
Other groups include:
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar and Italy/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Wales/Northern Ireland
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and Sweden/Ukraine/Albania/Poland
Canada coach Jesse Marsch acknowledged the potential difficulty of facing Italy should they qualify.
No team has defended a World Cup title since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Only eight nations have ever lifted the trophy; Italy has four titles and Uruguay two.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with a gold-colored peace prize trophy and medal, prompting Trump to call the honor “one of the great moments of my life.”