World Cup Groups 2026: All 48 qualified teams are now confirmed
The four-year wait is almost over.
After months of qualifiers around the world, last-minute drama and a playoff that decided the final spots, the championship, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will be conducted in a format where the top two from each group, as well as the top eight third-place finishers, advance to the playoffs.
Read: The three Italian line-ups of superstars who failed to qualify for the World Cup
This is what the groups for the 2026 World Cup look like
Sweden, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, DR Congo and Iraq were the last teams to secure a World Cup ticket after the play-offs on Tuesday 31 March.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | Canada | Brazil | United States |
| South Africa | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Morocco | Paraguay |
| South Korea | Qatar | Haiti | Australia |
| Czech Republic | Switzerland | Scotland | Turkey |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Netherlands | Belgium | Spain |
| Curaçao | Japan | Egypt | Cape Verde |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Sweden | Iran | Saudi Arabia |
| Ecuador | Tunisia | New Zealand | Uruguay |
| Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Argentina | Portugal | England |
| Senegal | Algeria | DR Congo | Croatia |
| Iraq | Austria | Uzbekistan | Ghana |
| Norway | Jordan | Colombia | Panama |
The stars who don’t show up
International football always leaves behind stories that are difficult to explain, and one of them is the amount of talent that will not be able to participate in the upcoming World Cup. On paper, this is a crew that could have competed for most things.
In goal is Gianluigi Donnarumma, a European champion and one of the biggest profiles missing. The defence combines class and top level with players such as Alessandro Bastoni and David Hancko, along with Andrei Ratiu and Ukrainian Ilya Zabarnyi. A defensive four that clearly shows how painful it was for teams like Italy to be left out.
Gunpowder in attack
Midfield and wingers raise the bar even further. Players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia lead a creative group that also includes Bryan Mbeumo. These are players in great form who, despite strong performances at club level, do not get to show themselves on the big international stage.
At the top, the power is undisputed with Victor Osimhen and Benjamin Šeško – two strikers who have been sold for large sums of money in the transfer market, and who symbolize the big losses for countries like Nigeria. The team is a clear reminder that the World Cup does not always bring together all the best players, and as they themselves put it in the program: “this team could have given anyone a game.”
This is what the star team looks like – with market value
| Position | Player | Countries | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Gianluigi Donnarumma | Italy | €45 million |
| Right-back | Andrei Rațiu | Romania | €18 million |
| Centre-back | Ilya Zabarnyi | Ukraine | €45 million |
| Centre-back | Alessandro Bastoni | Italy | €70 million |
| Left-back | David Hancko | Slovakia | €35 million |
| Edge/Right | Bryan Mbeumo | Cameroon | €80 million |
| Midfield | Morten Hjulmand | Denmark | €45 million |
| Midfield | Dominik Szoboszlai | Hungary | €100 million |
| Edge/Left | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Georgia | €90 million |
| Striker | Victor Osimhen | Nigeria | €75 million |
| Striker | Benjamin Šeško | Slovenia | €65 million |
Total market capitalization: €668 million
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