FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: Australia Set to Challenge Host Nation United States in Group Revelations

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw was as dramatic as the Andrea Bocelli performance that opened the ceremony — revealing the fate of every nation for football’s biggest stage in the US, Canada and Mexico and a new peace prize.

The event was hosted by Comedian Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum, a German-American TV Personality, at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, where FIFA president Gianni Infantino made the opening remarks describing the World Cup as ‘104 Super Bowls in one month’ for the Americans.

“Welcome in all the languages of the world, in the language of football, which is the language of passion. FIFA is the official happiness provider of humanity,” he said.

The glitzy draw event for the 2026 FIFA World Cup recently unfolded, capturing the attention of sports enthusiasts worldwide.

For the first time since 1974, Australia is set to face off against the host nation, Germany.

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, along with broadcaster Samantha Johnson and sporting icons such as Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal, conducted the draw for 48 national teams, placing them in 12 different groups.

O’Neal drew Australia’s name for group D, meaning the Socceroos will be playing against one of the hosts, the US (USMNT), and Paraguay.

The event was illuminated by the presence of sporting legends, including NFL great Tom Brady, ice hockey’s Wayne Gretzky, and former NBA powerhouse Shaquille O’Neal, who played pivotal roles in conducting the draw.

The group will also feature the team that emerges victorious from playoff C, which includes Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo.

A spokesperson shared, “Facing a team from UEFA Play-Off C adds an element of unpredictability since we play them first—yet, the excitement is palpable.”

How tough is Australia’s group?

The draw means Australia has avoided coming up against the world’s top teams in the group stage, including Spain, Argentina, France, and England.

Posting on X, a former Australian football player and sports analyst has described Australia’s group as “positive but challenging group for Australia”.

“Playing home nation will be fantastic, great focus and drama, and the US support at a home event will be immense, and exciting,” he said.

The United States, the world’s No.14-ranked team, will be the hardest team Australia is facing. The Socceroos have played the US four times, for one win, one draw and two losses.

Speaking on Fox, the USMNT manager, Mauricio Pochettino, pointed out their previous clash against Australia.

“We need to respect all the opponents. All is going to be difficult. We know Paraguay was doing so well in the South American qualification. Australia, until we played them, were unbeaten in 12 or 13 games,” he said.

“Full respect, but yes, believing that we can go through. But we need to perform.”

The last time Australia won a match against the US was their first friendly game in 1992.

Australia have not played world No.39 Paraguay since a 1-0 friendly win in 2010 but are unbeaten in five clashes — two wins, three draws — with the South American team.

The Socceroos have never faced Kosovo, they’ve lost twice to Türkiye, have one defeat against Romania and one draw against Slovakia.

When and where are the Socceroos playing?

Teams will wait for confirmation of the venues and dates for all their group matches on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT). Since the Socceroos are in the group with one of the hosts, their games are likely to be scheduled on North America’s west coast.

The Socceroos’ opponent for the first match is still unknown, as the national team will play their first match against the winner of playoff C between Slovakia, Kosovo, or Turkiye, on 13 June in Vancouver.

On 19 June, Australia will be facing the hosts, United States, in Seattle, probably for their most important match in the group stage.

Six days later, for their last match, Australia will face Paraguay in Santa Clara.

What if the Socceroos qualify?

Based on the new World Cup rules, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will qualify to the next stage, along with the eight best third-placed teams.

If the Socceroos win group D, they will face the best third-placed team from groups A, B, C, D or F, and if they get second, they have to play against the runners-up of group G, one of Egypt, Iran or New Zealand.

Finishing one of the eight best third-placers will also mean that the Socceroos will face the Group E, I, or K winner.

Full group draw revealed

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Play-off D winner (Czechia, Ireland, Denmark or Macedonia
Group B: Canada, Play-off A winner (Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovinam, Italy or Northern Ireland), Qatar, Switzerland,
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: The US, Paraguay, Australia, Play-off C winner (Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye or Romania)
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Play-off B winner (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania) Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Play-off 2 winner (Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq), Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Play-off 1 winner (New Caledonia, Jamaica or Democratic Republic of the Congo), Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

Which is ‘the group of death’?

It looks like for 2026, it will be hard to pick ‘the group of death’.

However, Group I (France, Senegal, playoff 2 winner —Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq — and Norway) can be one to watch, as the French superstar Kylian Mbappe, will be facing the Norwegian goal scorer Erling Haaland.

Group L (England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama) is another one to watch, as England might be looking for revenge from Croatia, who beat them in the 2018 World Cup semifinal, bringing their World Cup streak to an end at that time

Trump winning the controversial ‘2025 FIFA peace prize’

The event, however, was not just about football, as Infantino presented the inaugural FIFA peace prize to the US President Donald Trump.

Infantino said the award is presented by “billions of football lovers”, and they gave the award to Trump for his “actions to provide peace around the world”.

Infantino said: “This is what we want from a leader, a leader that cares about the people. We want to live in a safe world, in a safe environment … and you definitely deserve the first FIFA peace prize.”

FIFA said the peace prize “recognises the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations”. Source: AP / Chris Carlson/AP

The prize was announced in early November and has since raised questions about whether Trump will be its first recipient.

Trump and Infantino are known to have a close relationship.

Infantino has supported Trump’s nomination for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, and he was the unexpected guest of the Egypt Peace Summit, being invited personally by Trump.

After receiving the FIFA peace prize, Trump said: “This is truly one of the great honours of my life and beyond.”

“The world is a safer place now … Now I have to say we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world and we’re going to keep it that way,” he said.

How to watch the World Cup?

The first match will be played between Mexico and South Africa on 11 June, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, and the tournament will be determined on 19 July, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

You can watch all 104 games of the FIFA World Cup 26™ Live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand, next year.