The 2026 World Cup is less than six months away, and the draw results are in! For the first time, we have an extended field of 48 teams competing in the tournament, and 42 of the spots are filled, with six more up for grabs. Although we are a long ways away from betting on this competition, let’s take a peek at how the groups turned out.
Check out the best odds on the market at our top online sportsbooks, and be sure to check out tons of picks in different soccer leagues across the world.
2026 World Cup Format
Since we expanded the field, the format had to change, but it stayed fairly similar. There are 12 groups of four teams, where every member goes head to head earning the standard three points for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. Group Stage matches will only play 90 minutes regardless of the result.
After that, the top two teams from each group automatically advance, plus the top eight third place squads also qualify. We take those 32 teams and place them into a standard bracket, where teams play single elimination games. The matches in the Knockout Stage will see two 15 minute periods of extra time if teams are tied after regulation, followed by a penalty kick shootout if necessary to decide a winner. One must advance.
Christian Pulisic and the United States are co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico
2026 World Cup Draw Results
Below are the 12 groups listed, along with the team’s current FIFA World Ranking.
Group A
- Mexico (15)
- Korea Republic (22)
- South Africa (61)
- UEFA Playoff D Winner
Potential final member: Denmark (21), Czechia (44), Ireland (59) or North Macedonia (65)
Group B
- Switzerland (17)
- Canada (27)
- Qatar (51)
- UEFA Playoff A Winner
Potential final member: Italy (12), Wales (32), Northern Ireland (69) or Bosnia and Herzegovina (71)
Group C
- Brazil (5)
- Morocco (11)
- Scotland (36)
- Haiti (84)
Group D
- United States (14)
- Australia (26)
- Paraguay (39)
- UEFA Playoff C Winner
Potential final member: Turkey (25), Slovakia (45), Romania (47) or Kosovo (80)
Group E
- Germany (9)
- Ecuador (23)
- Côte d’Ivoire (42)
- Curaçao (82)
Group F
- Netherlands (7)
- Japan (18)
- Tunisia (40)
- UEFA Playoff B
Potential final member: Ukraine (28), Poland (31), Sweden (43) or Albania (63)
Group G
- Belgium (8)
- Iran (20)
- Egypt (34)
- New Zealand (86)
Group H
- Spain (1)
- Uruguay (16)
- Saudi Arabia (60)
- Cabo Verde (68)
Group I
- France (3)
- Senegal (19)
- Norway (29)
- FIFA Playoff Tournament 2 Winner
Potential final member: Iraq (58), Bolivia (76) or Suriname (123)
Group J
- Argentina (2)
- Austria (24)
- Algeria (35)
- Jordan (66)
Group K
- Portugal (6)
- Colombia (13)
- Uzbekistan (50)
- FIFA Playoff Tournament 1
Potential final member: Congo DR (56), Jamaica (70) or New Caledonia (149)
Group L
- England (4)
- Croatia (10)
- Panama (30)
- Ghana (72)
Groups D and F have the potential to have all four members ranked within the top 40 in the world, making them top choices for the Group of Death. Groups C, K and L all have two in the top 15, but the top two in each group automatically advance, making the more interesting groups those more evenly spread out.
Nicolo Barella and Italy have not yet qualified for the 2026 World Cup, but could still earn a spot through a playoff
World Cup Playoff Tournaments
We have six separate competitions to fill the final spots. Those teams will be filled when matches are played on March 26 and March 31. Let’s look at each team’s path into the 2026 World Cup.
UEFA Playoff Tournaments
Europe has four different spots to fill for the upcoming World Cup.
Playoff A
- Italy vs. Northern Ireland
- Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
Playoff B
- Ukraine vs. Sweden
- Poland vs. Albania
Playoff C
- Turkey vs. Romania
- Slovakia vs. Kosovo
Playoff D
- Denmark vs. North Macedonia
- Czechia vs. Ireland
The two semifinal winners for each playoff will meet five days later with a spot in the field of 48 on the line.
FIFA Playoff Tournaments
FIFA compiled their own tournaments for the final two spots. They invited six clubs, split them into two separate competitions, with the two winners as the last two nations in the 2026 World Cup. The four lowest rated teams play in the semifinals (the same day as the UEFA matches) while the two highest rated teams immediately made the tournament finals.
Playoff 1
- Jamaica vs. New Caledonia
- Winner vs. Congo DR
Playoff 2
- Bolivia vs. Suriname
- Winner vs. Iraq
2026 World Cup Betting Odds
Fabian Ruiz leads a star-studded Spanish midfield
Here are the odds to win the 2026 World Cup, courtesy of Lucky Rebel.
Odds to Win 2026 World Cup
- Spain +450
- England +600
- France +700
- Brazil +800
- Argentina +850
- Portugal +1100
- Germany +1200
- Netherlands +2000
- Norway +2800
- Italy +3500 (Have not yet qualified)
- Belgium +4000
- Colombia +5000
- Uruguay +6000
- United States +7500
Other teams listed further down include Ecuador, Mexico, Morocco and Switzerland, all at 80-1. Croatia, Japan and Senegal are all priced at 100-1, while Austria, Denmark, Ghana, Paraguay, Korea Republic and Sweden are on the oddsboard at 150-1. For our Canadian readers, they are priced at 250-1 to lift the cup.
Should be an incredible competition next summer!
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