The day that hoteliers have been waiting for has finally come: The group draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America has been released.
Each group is separated into four teams who will face off against each other once in the group stage to try and qualify for the knockout stage. Thirty-two of the 48 teams will advance to the knockout stage. Each of the 12 group winners will automatically advance, and the remaining qualifiers will make it based on record and goal differential.
The official schedule of each group stage match has also been released, providing hoteliers with the ability to plan for the teams and fanbases that will come through their cities. The group stage will take place between June 11-27.
There's six spots still up for grabs from teams awaiting qualification.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D | Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H | Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
| Mexico | Canada | Brazil | United States | Germany | Netherlands | Belgium | Spain | France | Argentina | Portugal | England |
| South Africa | UEFA Path A winner | Morocco | Paraguay | Curaçao | Japan | Egypt | Cape Verde | Senegal | Algeria | IC Path 1 winner | Croatia |
| South Korea | Qatar | Haiti | Australia | Ivory Coast | UEFA Path B winner | Iran | Saudi Arabia | IC Path 2 winner | Austria | Uzbekistan | Ghana |
| UEFA Path D winner | Switzerland | Scotland | UEFA Path C winner | Ecuador | Tunisia | New Zealand | Uruguay | Norway | Jordan | Colombia | Panama |
The United States is paired with Paraguay, Australia and one of Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania. The United States will face off against Paraguay in its first group stage match on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. Its second match will be on June 19, 2026, against Australia in Seattle.
The top seven most impactful international fan bases listed in Tourism Economics' report on hotel demand expectations for the tournament — England, France, Brazil, Argentina, Portugal, Germany and Spain — are in different groups among the 12.
North America is hosting the quadrennial soccer tournament for the first time since 1994. It will span 39 days, beginning on June 11, 2026, and concluding on July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
This will be the largest World Cup in history both in terms of the field of teams — 48 — and total matches — 104.