Favourable 2026 World Cup Draw For Big Teams; Trump Appearance Dominates Event

Holders Argentina and leading contenders Spain and England received favourable draws for the 2026 World Cup during a star-studded ceremony on Friday, where US President Donald Trump was awarded FIFA’s new peace prize.

The event in Washington marked the beginning of the final countdown to the tournament, six months ahead of the first-ever 48-team World Cup, with much-fancied France among those with tougher tasks.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina will start their title defence against Algeria, and will also face Austria and debutants Jordan in Group J.

Highly-favoured Spain, the European champions, will begin against first-time qualifiers Cape Verde before facing Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.

Thomas Tuchel’s England will take on Croatia, Ghana and Panama

in a favourable Group L.

Two-time winners France, meanwhile, face challenging games against Senegal and Norway, led by Erling Haaland, in Group I, which an intercontinental play-off winner from either Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname will complete.

The 2026 tournament will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, with 16 more teams added to the global showpiece, up from the 32 nations involved in Qatar in 2022.

This means a total of 104 matches, compared to 64 games last time.

While the US will host the majority of games, including the final at MetLife Stadium outside New York, three of the 16 venues will be in Mexico and two in Canada.

“We’ve worked closely with those two countries, and the coordination and friendship have been outstanding,” Trump said at the Kennedy Centre after receiving his prize from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“It is truly one of the great honours of my life. It is such an honour to be with Gianni. He has done such an incredible job,” he added.

“The world is a safer place now. The United States, a year ago, was not doing too well, but now it is the hottest country anywhere in the world.”

– Brazil face Morocco –

While Trump seized the limelight, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum were in attendance as well.

As snow fell outside amid freezing temperatures in the US capital, some of the biggest stars in American sport and entertainment appeared on stage inside.

The event was co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and American actor and comedian Kevin Hart, featuring performances by the Village People, Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli.

NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal were among the stars helping to conduct the draw.

In other parts of the draw, co-hosts Mexico will face South Africa in Group A in the tournament’s opening game at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil and surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco are grouped in Group C, which includes Scotland and Haiti as well.

Germany will compete against the Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Caribbean minnows Curacao in Group E, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will face Uzbekistan, Colombia and a play-off winner.

– ‘Greatest event in humanity’ –

Co-hosts the United States received a manageable draw with Paraguay, Australia and a European play-off winner in Group D.

“It will be the greatest World Cup ever, the greatest event that humanity has ever seen. We have three beautiful countries, 16 wonderful host cities, 48 excellent teams who will compete in 104 matches to become the only world champion,” Infantino said.

“This is like 104 Super Bowls in one month — this is the magnitude of what we are organising,” he added of the tournament.

Six finals spots are still to be decided in the playoffs set for March.

Because of the complexity, teams will only learn the full details of their game venues and kick-off times on Saturday, December 6, a day after the draw.

(With AFP Inputs)