Draw Reaction

That World Cup Draw Ceremony was...something.  And not in a good way.  That was bad even for FIFA.  After 90 minutes of mindless, tedious crap, they finally got on with the one thing people watching were actually interested in--the World Cup draw.  Once they finally got down to business, we found out who'll be playing who next summer.  Well, for the most part.  We, of course, still don't know the six teams that'll come out of the qualifying playoffs in March (which caused plenty of its own confusion during the draw ceremony).

And, I must say, the draw couldn't have worked out better for the Americans!  (At least the group play draw!)  Mexico also ended up with a pretty favorable group.  Canada, on the other hand, has their work cut out for them.  They might have to play Italy in their opening game!  And they're not the only ones with a difficult group.

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, UEFA D (Czechia/Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia)
El Tri should have no problem getting out of the group, regardless of who wins that European playoff.  If it's Denmark, they've got a great shot at the second automatic spot.  South Korea can't be counted out, either.  Except the Koreans got a little unlucky in that their group will play entirely in Mexico, so they won't have the crowd support from Korean-Americans.  South Africa, meanwhile, gets the honor of playing in the tournament's opening game--against Mexico at Azteca on June 11.

Group B: Canada, UEFA A (Wales/Bosnia & Herzegovina/Italy/Northern Ireland), Qatar, Switzerland
"UEFA A" was the Pot 4 team none of the Pot 1 teams wanted to see Wayne Gretzky pull out.  And it was his native land that ended up drawing the short straw!  Canada-Italy would be a great matchup to start the tournament, but it sure wouldn't be easy for the Canadians.  (Although, Canada was the lowest-ranked team in Pot 1, so in that way it worked out.)  This is all assuming Italy wins that European playoff, of course, but even if it's Wales or Northern Ireland, that's a difficult matchup.  So is Switzerland.  Fortunately, eight third-place teams advance to the knockout phase.  Canada may need to rely on that backdoor method.

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Brazil-Morocco is an intriguing game to open group play.  Brazil, of course, is Brazil.  Morocco became the first African side ever to make the semifinals at the last World Cup and is the strongest of all the African teams.  That should be the first match at MetLife Stadium, too.  They're a clear top two, but Scotland can't be counted out.  And congratulations to Haiti on making it back to the World Cup for the first time since 1974!  The fact that they simply get to play Brazil will be such a source of national pride!

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA C (Slovakia/Kosovo/Turkey/Romania)
In 1994, the United States played Romania at the Rose Bowl in its final game of group play.  The Americans' third game of group play in 2026 is again in LA, this time at SoFi Stadium.  For that reason, a part of me really wants Romania to win the UEFA playoffs--simply so that can be the third game again.  Regardless, this was about as much of a dream draw as the USA could've asked for.  Winning the group is not an unrealistic expectation.

Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Curacao's first-ever World Cup game will be against Germany.  That's incredibly cool, but also has a chance of being incredibly overwhelming.  Germany has disappointed at the last few World Cups, but should get out of this group no problem.  Whether the Ivory Coast or Ecuador will join them (maybe both) is the real question.  That Ivory Coast-Ecuador opener could answer it.

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, UEFA B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania), Tunisia
Whoever emerges from that UEFA playoff could really affect the complexion of this group.  Japan was the first team to qualify and is consistently the best team in Asia.  The Netherlands is one of the favorites.  It could be smooth sailing for those two if Albania somehow ends up being the fourth team in the group.  If it's Poland or Sweden, this group becomes that much more difficult.  Especially since Tunisia isn't exactly a pushover

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Talk about an easy group!  Belgium should coast into the Round of 32!  Although, it's also an incredible opportunity for the other three teams, one of which has to finish second and advance to the knockout phase.  There was also a little stroke of luck with Iran ending up in Group G.  This group has two games in Vancouver.  Considering how difficult it might be for Iranian fans to get visas into the U.S., it certainly worked out well that Iran can play its last two games in Canada.  (They can also play their first game in Seattle and set up their base camp in Canada.)

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Like fellow World Cup debutant Curacao, Cape Verde gets welcomed to the Big Leagues in a big way--World No. 1 Spain.  This ended up being a very favorable draw for La Roja.  Uruguay should be tough, but they'll likely both have clinched spots in the Round of 32 when they face each other in the last game (most likely in Houston).  Can Saudi Arabia pull another upset like they did against Argentina in Qatar?  If they do, that could get them into the Round of 32, as well.

Group I: France, Senegal, FIFA 2 (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname), Norway
France went into the 2002 World Cup as the defending champions and dropped their opening game to Senegal.  Who'll be their opening World Cup opponent 24 years later?  Senegal!  And Norway was the Pot 3 team everybody was hoping to avoid--both because of how they rolled through qualifying and because of Erling Haaland.  This has definite "Group of Death" potential.  Those are three good teams!

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Maybe this one should be called "Group A" instead.  Although, the only non-A country in this group does start with J, so maybe Jordan isn't the odd man out after all!  Anyway, Argentina ended up with a group nearly as favorable as Belgium.  Austria's tough and was impressive in European qualifying, reaching its first World Cup since 1998.  I'd expect they'll finish second in the group.

Group K: Portugal, FIFA 1 (DR Congo/New Caledonia/Jamaica), Uzbekistan, Colombia
Pretty Boy will be 41 and playing in his sixth World Cup next summer.  As Alexi Lalas said during the draw show, he'll suck all the energy out of Group K, which he most likely will.  I'm not sure this group will be the cakewalk for Portugal that many expect, though.  Colombia is No. 13 in the world and made the final at the 2024 Copa America, which was played in many of the same stadiums as the World Cup will be.  I wouldn't be surprised if Colombia wins the group.

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
When Colombia was drawn into Group K, leaving just Croatia in Pot 2 (and, thus, automatically in Group L), the faces of the English and Croatia contingents immediately fell.  That was certainly not the opening game either team wanted.  Croatia's the only top 10 team that wasn't in Pot 1, so one of the other top teams was gonna end up stuck with them in their group.  It certainly won't be easy going for an English side that many think is good enough to win the World Cup.  Throw in Ghana and a Panama team that obviously plays in the United States often and is very comfortable in the stadiums that will be used for the World Cup and that's three tough games for both European squads.  (It's also hilarious that England could play games in both Boston AND Philadelphia in the Summer of 2026!)