Argentina discovered their path at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The defending champions will start their campaign against Algeria.
Lionel Messi will turn 39 during the tournament. If he decides to play his sixth World Cup, he will face Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J. The event will run from June 11 to July 19 across Mexico, the United States and Canada. It may also be the final chance for Cristiano Ronaldo, now 40, to win the trophy he has chased all his career.
Ronaldo, the highest scorer in men’s international football, has played in five World Cups like Messi. Portugal are in Group K with the winner of Play-Off Tournament 1 (DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia), Uzbekistan and Colombia, the national team of his former Real Madrid teammate James Rodríguez.
If both Argentina and Portugal win their groups and progress through the last 32 and last 16, Messi and Ronaldo will meet in the quarterfinal. It could be the final chapter of their long rivalry.
Mexico will host the opening match at the Azteca Stadium. They will face South Africa. Javier Aguirre’s side will also meet Korea Republic and the winner of European Play-Off D, which includes Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and North Macedonia.
Brazil have not lifted the World Cup since 2002. Their closest attempt came in 2014 on home soil. Carlo Ancelotti’s team will begin their Group C journey against Morocco, the surprise semifinalists of 2022 who knocked out Portugal. Brazil will also play Haiti and Scotland.
France, the two-time champions, face Senegal, Norway and the winner of FIFA Play-Off Tournament 2 (Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname). Norway will rely on Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, who scored freely during qualifying to help the country return to the World Cup after 28 years.
Euro 2024 winners Spain, champions in 2010, are in Group H. Their opponents are Uruguay, coached by Marcelo Bielsa, along with Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia were the only team to defeat Argentina at the last World Cup.
Germany, the 2014 champions, are in Group E with Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire and debutants Curaçao. The Netherlands will face Japan, Tunisia and the winner of European Play-Off B, which features Ukraine, Sweden, Poland and Albania.
For the first time, 48 teams will compete in the World Cup. The final will take place on July 19 in New Jersey.
The full match schedule with venues and kickoff times will be released on Dec. 6 at 11 p.m. Bangladesh time.
