Qatar were drawn into Group B at the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and the winners of UEFA Playoff A following Friday’s draw in Washington.
Qatar were drawn into Group B of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they will face co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and the winners of UEFA Playoff A, following Friday’s final draw in Washington, D.C.
The playoff slot in Qatar’s group will be filled by one of Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The draw took place on Friday at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with global sports figures including Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky and Aaron Judge taking part in the ceremony.
The expanded 48-team tournament will be staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, marking the first time the World Cup is hosted by three countries. Mexico will open the tournament in Mexico City on June 11 against South Africa.
Defending champions Argentina were drawn in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria and World Cup debutants Jordan, setting up an all Arab clash between Algeria and Jordan in the group stage. Brazil will face Morocco, Scotland and Haiti in Group C.
Group G features another Middle East and North Africa matchup, with Egypt and Iran drawn together alongside Belgium and New Zealand. Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde make up Group H.
France were drawn in Group I with Senegal, Norway and the winners of the FIFA Playoff 2 between Iraq, Bolivia and Suriname. Group K will see Portugal face Colombia, Uzbekistan and one of DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia.
England headline Group L alongside Croatia, Panama and Ghana, while hosts the United States were drawn in Group D with Australia, Paraguay and the winners of UEFA Playoff C.
Germany, Ecuador, the Ivory Coast and Curacao were placed in Group E, while Group F will include the Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia and the winners of UEFA Playoff B.
A record seven Arab teams have already qualified for the tournament, with the number set to rise to eight should Iraq reach the finals via the intercontinental playoff.
The group stage will run until June 27, with the top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed sides advancing to a new round of 32. A total of 104 matches will be played across 39 days.
The final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York and New Jersey, while AT and T Stadium in Dallas will host the most matches across the tournament.
