Teams like Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and France—the top contenders for this year’s World Cup—now finally know who they will face in their opening matches. The draw took place at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, revealing the first-round fixtures. However, the full schedule, including dates, stadiums, and kick-off times, will be finalized and published on Saturday night.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘 𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕—𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏,” 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒚.
Argentina, Brazil, and Spain Get Favourable Openers
Both Argentina and Brazil have been handed comparatively comfortable groups.
Brazil landed in Group C with Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. Their opening match will be against Morocco, a team they last faced in the 1998 World Cup, where Brazil won 3–0.
Argentina, placed in Group J, will face Austria, Algeria, and Jordan. The World Cup champions begin their campaign against Algeria.
European champions Spain start their Group H journey against Cape Verde, with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia completing the group lineup.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will kick off their first match against the winner of the intercontinental play-offs, joining Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.
𝑫𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔, 𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐-𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 “𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒑 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉.”
England, France, and Germany Brace for Tough Starts World Cup
This tournament’s Group L is being labelled one of the toughest groups. England and Croatia, along with Ghana and Panama, promise fierce competition. England’s first match is a heavyweight clash against Croatia.
Germany, after two disappointing group-stage exits, appears to have a smoother path. Assigned to Group E, they will face Curacao in their opening match, followed by Ecuador and the Ivory Coast.
Two-time finalists France have a challenging route in Group I, which includes Senegal, Norway, and one of Iraq, Suriname, or Bolivia (depending on play-off results). Their first match is a rematch from the 2002 World Cup group stage—this time against Senegal.
In other notable fixtures:
- The Netherlands face Japan in Group F.
- Belgium, which shocked the world in 2018, opened against Egypt.
- Hosts Mexico start against South Africa, while co-hosts USA face Paraguay.
- Canada will face either Northern Ireland, Italy, Wales, or Bosnia, depending on UEFA play-off outcomes.
Full Group Breakdown
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, the Republic, Denmark/North Macedonia/the Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland
Group B: Canada, Northern Ireland/Italy/Wales/Bosnia, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ecuador, Ivory Coast
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
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