The 2026 World Cup had its first highlight, this Friday, December 5. The group draw took place in Washington during a large ceremony, in the presence of Donald Trump and Fifa boss Gianni Infantino.
The French team will face Senegal, Norway and an intercontinental play-off (Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname) during the group stage of the World Cup next summer, inheriting a fairly tough draw.
For Didier Deschamps’ last final phase as coach, the Blues will play their first three matches on the East Coast of the United States (New York, Boston or Philadelphia).
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The leaders of these three countries – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, her American counterpart Donald Trump, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney – attended the drawing ceremony this Friday.
42 qualified countries
On a sporting level, the stakes in the draw are high for the selectors of the 42 countries already qualified, who will be joined in March by six play-offs, to bring the number of participants to 48, a first in the history of the World Cup.
Even if the composition of the 12 groups of four and the posters for the first round are revealed this Friday, you will have to wait until Saturday to discover the locations and times of the meetings. A novelty introduced by Fifa, concerned with “ensure the best possible conditions for all teams and spectators while allowing, wherever possible, fans from all over the world to watch their teams play live despite different time zones”.
Other draws
Argentina, defending champion, will face Austria, Algeria and Jordan in Group J of the 2026 World Cup, co-organized by the United States, Canada and Mexico (June 11-July 19), according to the draw made Friday in Washington.
England falls with Croatia, Panama and Ghana in Group L. Portugal with Colombia, Uzbekistan and an intercontinental play-off in Group K.
