How will Canada, US, and Mexico perform in their World Cup groups?

Canada, Mexico, and the United States discovered on Friday the teams they will compete against when the 2026 World Cup begins on their home soil this June. The group stage draw, conducted by North American sports icons Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, Aaron Judge, and Wayne Gretzky, outlined the path each host nation must navigate toward the knockout rounds.

This upcoming tournament will be the largest in World Cup history, featuring 48 teams for the first time. The 1994 edition in the United States included 24 teams, which later expanded to 32 in France in 1998. The current expansion significantly increases the number of matchups and permutations for the draw, which took place in Washington DC, with assistants Rio Ferdinand and Samantha Johnson helping to manage the process.

The host nations benefit from being placed in pot one, reserved for the highest-ranked teams, which theoretically provides a smoother route to the knockout stage. Their main concern was which teams from pot two would join their groups, as these teams typically represent the strongest competition early on. Canada, Mexico, and the US all avoided facing Croatia, Morocco, and Norway in the initial group stage.

Mexico in Group A

Mexico drew a challenging opponent in South Korea, led by star forward Son Heung-min, who recently joined Los Angeles FC. South Korea went unbeaten in Asian qualifying, conceding only eight goals in 16 matches, making them arguably Mexicos toughest group-stage rival. Mexico has shown strong regional form, winning both the Nations League and Gold Cup this year, though friendly match results toward the end of 2025 were less convincing. Their World Cup opener will take place at the iconic Estadio Azteca against South Africa, who narrowly defeated Nigeria in African qualifying. Group A will also include the winner of a UEFA play-off featuring Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, or the Republic of Ireland.

Canada in Group B

Canada faces Switzerland, an unbeaten side with a solid defensive record in qualifying. Qatar, host of the 2018 World Cup, also joins Group B. Another potential challenge may come from Italy, a four-time World Cup champion, if they succeed in a European play-off that includes Northern Ireland, Wales, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Canadian coach Jesse Marsch will need to prepare carefully for these matchups.

United States in Group D

The US arguably has the most favorable draw among the hosts. Led by coach Mauricio Pochettino, the team faces Australia from pot two, who qualified through Asian competition with five wins and one loss in the final round. Paraguay, from pot three, also joins the group. The final spot in Group D will be determined by a UEFA play-off winner from Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo, providing a matchup the US should feel confident about based on recent friendly results against Australia and Paraguay.

Overall, the draw positions all three North American hosts well for advancing beyond the group stage, increasing anticipation for the tournament on home soil and promising exciting fixtures for fans across the continent.

Author: Olivia Parker