Excitement for the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico will ramp up a notch today, as the draw for the group stages takes place

The draw ceremony for the FIFA World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., divided a record 48 teams into 12 groups of four. Six World Cup spots won’t be determined until March, when 22 teams will face off in playoffs.

The United States is the Group D favorite following the draw for World Cup 2026. It's first-round opponents include Paraguay and Australia.

The United States will face Paraguay in its opening match in Group D, and Mexico will play South Africa in the tournament’s first game.