How could Canada, US and Mexico fare in their World Cup groups?

December 6, 2025

The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw was conducted in Washington DC on Friday, revealing the group stage matchups for the expanded 48-team tournament that will be co-hosted across North America. This historic World Cup marks the first time the competition has grown beyond 32 teams, with celebrity athletes including Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky assisting in the drawing process. The three host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—all received advantageous placements in pot one alongside top-ranked teams, though they face varying levels of difficulty in their respective groups.

Who is affected

**Host nations**: Canada, Mexico, and the United States national soccer teams
**Specific coaches**: Jesse Marsch (Canada), Javier Aguirre (Mexico), and Mauricio Pochettino (United States)
**Confirmed opponents**: South Korea, South Africa, Switzerland, Qatar, Australia, and Paraguay
**European teams in playoffs**: Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo
**Key players mentioned**: Son Heung-min (South Korea captain)
**African teams**: Nigeria (failed to qualify after being edged out by South Africa)

What action is being taken

No explicit ongoing actions are described in the article. The draw has been completed, and the article discusses future matches and potential scenarios rather than actions currently taking place.

Why it matters

This is the biggest World Cup in history, expanding from 32 to 48 teams for the first time, representing a major evolution of the world's premier soccer tournament. The draw results have significant implications for the host nations' chances of success, as advancing beyond the group stage traditionally enhances the overall tournament atmosphere and fan engagement. The relatively favorable draws for all three co-hosts increase the likelihood of their progression, which would benefit the tournament's commercial success and local enthusiasm. Additionally, this marks a return of the World Cup to North America after 32 years, with the 1994 US-hosted tournament having featured only 24 teams, making this expansion particularly meaningful for the region.

What's next

The tournament opens on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City with Mexico facing South Africa
UEFA qualifying playoffs will be held in March to determine the final teams that complete Groups A, B, and D
The group stage matches will proceed, with each host nation attempting to reach the knockout rounds
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre will finalize his World Cup roster based on recent friendly match assessments

Read full article from source: BBC