Mexico draws South Africa in 2026 FIFA World Cup opener

Mexico will open the 2026 FIFA World Cup against South Africa on June 11, and the United States will open the tournament against Paraguay a day later. The co-hosts Mexico, United States and Canada drew relatively fair groups on Friday afternoon as FIFA held the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

With 16 host sites spread between Mexico, the United States and Canada, 48 countries will begin the 2026 World Cup in 12 groups. U.S. President Donald Trump was joined by his Mexican and Canadian counterparts Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Draw. 

Mexico set to host third World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico, which will play host to its record third World Cup. The 1968 and 1986 hosts will share the host duties next year with the United States and Canada.

Mexico was placed in Group A with South Korea, South Africa and the winner of the UEFA Playoff D winner. That playoff will be disputed between Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic and the Republic of Ireland

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Canada was placed in Group B with Switzerland, Qatar and the winner of Playoff A. Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina will compete for the final spot in Group B. 

U.S. national team coach Mauricio Pochettino and the Americans are in Group D with Australia and the winner of FIFA Playoff C.  Turkey, Romania, Kosovo and Slovakia will compete for the final spot in the U.S. group.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal were placed in Group K with  Uzbekistan, Colombia and the winner of another FIFA Playoff. Congo, Jamaica and New Caledonia will compete for the final spot in Group K.

Lionel Messi, Argentina draw easy group

Lionel Messi and defending World Cup champion Argentina anchor Group J. Austria, Algeria and Jordan were placed in Argentina’s relatively easy group.

England anchors Group L with Croatia, Panama and Ghana. Superpower Brazil drew a relatively easy Group C with Morocco, Scotland, Haiti. Germany was placed in Group E, which may be one of the toughest groups.

Ecuador and the Ivory Coast will likely pose a difficult challenge with Curacao serving as the minnow of the group, if not the tournament. Group F has the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and the winner of another playoff. Ukraine, Sweden, Poland and Albania will compete to take the final spot in Group F. 

Group G Belgium, Iran, Egypt and New Zealand were placed in Group G. Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cabo Verde are in Group H. Group I is anchored by France with Senegal, Norway and the winner of another FIFA playoff. Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname will compete for the final spot in Group I.

In a major departure from the world’s soccer governing body’s tradition of claiming it would stay out of politics, FIFA Gianni Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.