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 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., divided a record 48 teams into 12 groups of four. Six 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.