FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw highlights: Mexico to face South Africa in opener; Morocco clubbed with Brazil in Group C

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner Play-off D

Group B: Canada, Winner Play-off A, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Winner Play-off C

Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner Play-off B, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

Group I: France, Senegal, Winner Play-off 2, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Winner Play-off 1, Colombia, Uzbekistan

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

The opening encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be played between Mexico and South Africa.

The third smallest country, Cape Verde will play against Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia in Group H.

Debutants Uzbekistan have been drawn into a tougher group in Group K with Portugal and Austria. Norway couldn't be in the same group as Portugal and England since they are in same confideration. .

Group A: Mexico, Korea Republic, South Africa

Group B: Canada, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco

Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, IR Iran, Egypt

Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama

Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, South Africa

Korea Republic are being placed in Group A with Mexico. Switzerland will face Canada in Group B. Morocco will go into Group C with Brazil. Australia join USA in Group D. Ecuador going to Group E, joining Germany. Japan go into group F along with Netherlands. Iran go into Group G. Uruguay join Spain in Group H. Senegal are drawn with France in Group I. Austria join Argentina in Group J. Colombia join Portugal in Group K. Croatia are in Group L with England.

Its time now for teams in Pot 2 - Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.

Brazil are the first team to be out. They are drawn as first team in Pot C. Germany are next and drawn in Group E. Netherlands go into group F in position 1. Belgium go into Group G as first team. Spain are drawn into Group H in position 1. Defending champions Argentina are in Group J in position 1. France are in Group I. Portugal are in Group K and England are in Group L. That sums up the teams from Pot 1.

Time for four Draw assistants and icons of American sports - Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, Shaquille O’Neill, and Tom Brady - walk up to the stage. It must be noted that the top four teams in the FIFA Rankings will not meet each other until the semifinals or final.

And here comes Rio Ferdinand, the Draw conductor for the evening.

Gianni Infantino announces that the Draw will begin shortly. The Draw will have three more new assistants in Donald Trump, Mark Carney and Claudia Sheinbaum.

Defending champions Argentina's World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni walks into the stage with the Trophy.

Gianni Infantino welcomes Donald Trump to get the 2025 FIFA Peace Prize. Trump gets a medal before Infantino reads out why the US President was given the award. He will also recieve a trophy.

It's time for the FIFA Peace Prize. The inaugural 2025 FIFA Peace Prize is bestowed upon the President of America Donald Trump for his “unwavering commitment for advancing peace and community throughout the world.”

The FIFA World Cup final will have a Super Bowl style half-time show for the first time. Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger perform the FIFA World Cup 2026 anthem.

The hosts for the event are comedian Kevin Hart and model Heidi Klum. FIFA president Gianni Infantino walks up to the stage to deliver the welcome speech. Infantino welcomes US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canada PM Mark Carney.

Andrea Bocelli kicks off the event with a specular solo performance.

After the Iran Football Federation decided to boycott the FIFA World Cup 2026 due denial of visas to several officials including the federation president, Iran football team head coach Ardeshir Amir Ghalenoei lands in Washington for the event.

Here we go. US President Donald Trump arrives at the Kennedy Centre for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw, accompanied by FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The Kennedy Centre of Performing Arts is all decked up for the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw. Here's a sneak peak of how the venue looks like for the mega event.

The FIFA World Cup has arrived at the venue for the Draw in Washington, D.C.

Former England and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand will conduct the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw alongside award-winning broadcaster Samantha Johnson. The Draw will be assisted by Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal. Eli Manning will be the Red Carpet host.

This FIFA World Cup carries emotions. Not because it will have 48 teams for the first time in history, but also because it might be Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo's last World Cup. While Messi was lucky enough to win the title, Ronaldo is yet to win the holy grail.

The mascots of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are yet to take the centre stage.

The Iranian Football Federation has decided to boycott the FIFA 2026 World Cup draw after the United States of America refused visas to several members of the delegation, including federation president Mehdi Taj. Notably, Taj is the vice president of Asian Football Confederation and also a part of two governing body committees that will oversee the tournament.

It must be noted that all the 48 teams are yet to be finalised for the World Cup as 22 teams are still vying for the final six spots. Out of those 22, 16 teams are in the UEFA for four World Cup berths, including four-time champion Italy.

Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Curacao, Ghana, Haiti, New Zealand, plus four European playoff winners and two intercontinental playoff winners

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, South Africa

Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia

Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany

Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will appear in soccer's premier event for the first time when next year's tournament is played from June 11 to July 19 at 16 sites in the United States, Mexico and Canada. (PTI)

The FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament's Final Draw will take place in Washington, DC, on Friday, with some of the biggest names in the sport set to grace the event.

As per Indian time, the draw will be held at 10:30 PM and finalise the composition of 12 groups of four teams each for the mega event, to be hosted next year by the USA, Canada and Mexico, featuring 48 teams. The marquee football tournament will start from June 11 onwards. (ANI)

The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place in Washington on Friday, with Donald Trump set to play a prominent part in a star-studded ceremony that will map the path to glory for contenders at the first-ever 48-team finals.

The most logistically complex World Cup in history 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. (AFP)

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw.