2026 FIFA World Cup Draw – AFC Edition

Cover Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images

DECEMBER 5, 2026 (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place in Washington D.C. on Friday at noon ET. Here’s how the groups shape up, with insights for each AFC nation headed to the upcoming tournament.

DRAW RESULTS:

GROUP A:
Mexico (CONCACAF, Host)
South Africa (CAF)
South Korea (AFC)
Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland (UEFA Play-Off D)

GROUP B:
Canada (CONCACAF, Host)
Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina (UEFA Play-Off A)
Qatar (AFC)
Switzerland (UEFA)

GROUP C:
Brazil (CONMEBOL)
Morocco (CAF)
Haiti (CONCACAF)
Scotland (UEFA)

GROUP D:
United States (CONCACAF, Host)
Paraguay (CONMEBOL)
Australia (AFC)
Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo (UEFA Play-Off C)

GROUP E:
Germany (UEFA)
Curaçao (CONCACAF)
Ivory Coast (CAF)
Ecuador (CONMEBOL)

GROUP F:
Netherlands (UEFA)
Japan (AFC)
Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania (UEFA Play-Off B)
Tunisia (CAF)

GROUP G:
Belgium (UEFA)
Egypt (CAF)
Iran (AFC)
New Zealand (OFC)

GROUP H:
Spain (UEFA)
Cabo Verde (CAF)
Saudi Arabia (AFC)
Uruguay (CONMEBOL)

GROUP I:
France (UEFA)
Senegal (CAF)
Iraq/Suriname/Bolivia (Inter-Confederation Play-Offs 2)
Norway (UEFA)

GROUP J:
Argentina (CONMEBOL)
Algeria (CAF)
Austria (UEFA)
Jordan (AFC)

GROUP K:
Portugal (UEFA)
Congo DR/Jamaica/New Caledonia (Inter-Confederation Play-Offs 1)
Uzbekistan (AFC)
Colombia (CONMEBOL)

GROUP L:
England (UEFA)
Croatia (UEFA)
Ghana (CAF)
Panama (CONCACAF)

The AFC Nations:

Australia (Group D):
The Socceroos are drawn into a group with USA, Paraguay, and the UEFA Play-Off Path C winners. USA is an interesting matchup. The two teams played in an eventual 2-1 loss in a friendly earlier this year, but Australia didn’t concede that many chances and created good looks. For a Pot 1 team draw, a very competitive matchup for Australia that they should be confident going into.

Paraguay are a bit of a difficult team to look at, as they’re an attacking team but not necessarily the most clinical. Paraguay don’t always score – so if Australia can sit back and hit on the counter, they have a chance to get a result against a really strong Paraguayan side. That said, Paraguay have players that can score from anywhere on the pitch (cough cough… Julio Enciso) and can create chances from nothing, so that’s a scary prospect. If Paraguay play like they did in the 2024 Copa America, a real shot at a result for Australia. IF.

Iran (Group G):
Iran are in a group with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, Iran get a Belgian side that have struggled in the most recent edition of the World Cup, getting grouped behind Croatia and Morocco. Iran will have to deal with a really solid attack for Belgium, but they should be able to create chances with Azmoun and Taremi against a Belgian backline that struggled at times during UEFA World Cup Qualification.

Egypt dominated their group in CAF World Cup Qualification en route to a return to the World Cup after not qualifying for 2022. Egypt has the elite talent (Salah and Marmoush in particular) but neither are in form at the moment and Egypt have been not-so-consistent in terms of scoring goals. Certainly could be a worse matchup.

New Zealand is a solid matchup and a must win match for Iran to move on from the group stage to the knockout round. Iran should really be favored here against the only OFC representatives that have qualified so far.

Iran have whatever the opposite of the Group of Death is.

Iraq (Group I):
It’s a group of death for Iraq, playing against France, Senegal, and Norway. This is, of course, if they qualify for the World Cup by beating the winner of Bolivia and Suriname in the Inter-Confederation Play-Offs on March 31, 2026, at the iconic Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, Mexico, the home of Liga MX side C.F. Monterrey.

All three sides are favored heavily against Iraq. You don’t need my professional opinion here – Iraq struggle to score goals and go up against three teams that score goals for fun with world class talent everywhere. Absolutely brutal for Graham Arnold’s side, even if they qualify.

Japan (Group F):
Japan are set to face off against the Netherlands, Tunisia, and the winner of the UEFA Play-Off Path B. It’s certainly not best or worst case scenario for Japan. Japan will have a tough matchup against the Dutch back three side – Japan will likely struggle more against teams that are solid defensively and have pace to hit on the counter. Not to mention, the Netherlands were semifinalists at the 2022 World Cup. Tough opening match for the Samurai Blue.

Tunisia put a beatdown on Japan in a friendly a few years ago in the Kirin Challenge Cup in 2022 before the Qatar World Cup, but the Japanese side won the most recent matchup in late 2023 in another friendly. Not a ton of pace, and they’ll likely be a team Japan have to find a way to break down defensively – something they’ve had to do in most matches in AFC World Cup Qualification.

Jordan (Group J):
The World Cup debutants get added to a group with Argentina, Algeria, and Austria. The matchup against Argentina, unsurprisingly, is a tough one. Is there more to say here besides good luck to that Jordan backline going up against the defending champions?

Austria’s pressing against Jordan is likely an incredibly tough matchup for Jordan. Jordan are not the most clinical, especially when playing out of the back, and Austria are one of the better high pressing teams in the world. Not a recipe for success.

Algeria is another brutal matchup. A clinical number 9 with great wing play will be a tough matchup for Jordan who have struggle defending set piece chances, but also are prone to conceding chances – something this Algerian side have been consistent in converting.

For Jordan, this is close to a Group of Death.

Qatar (Group B):
Qatar are drawn into a group with Canada, Switzerland, and UEFA Play-Off Path A winners. For a Qatar side that have been wildly inconsistent, it’s really hard to pinpoint what their strengths are aside from the magic Akram Afif can bring. Canada is a favorable draw, all things considered. I have to think Qatar get played off the pitch by any of the Pot 1 UEFA nations so drawing a host in Canada was as good as it was going to get.

Switzerland aren’t that strong in terms of pace, but are too defensively solid (2 goals conceded in 6 UEFA WC Qualification matches) for this Qatar side to cause much issues for Akanji, Kobel, and the Swiss backline. Overall, it could have been worse for Qatar but I’m not sure there was a great group option for Qatar no matter how you tried to shuffle the teams. It’s all in the hands of Afif to carry this Qatar side again.

Saudi Arabia (Group H):
Saudi Arabia are in a group with Spain, Uruguay, and Cabo Verde. Spain will be a difficult test for Saudi Arabia’s midfield, unsurprisingly, and with the quantity of chances Spain create and how they dominate the midfield, that’s an incredibly tough matchup. Never say never, as Saudi Arabia did upset eventual champions Argentina in 2022.

Uruguay end the calendar year in brutal form. The lack of finishing by the Uruguay teams, especially without a clinical 9 is a positive for Saudi Arabia, who really struggle against teams with a good, clinical, physical 9.

Cabo Verde is another team without that clinical 9 – Dailon Livarmento hasn’t scored a goal for Casa Pia yet and scored just one goal last season for Hellas Verona. On paper, not the worst matchup for Saudi Arabia here. They avoided another European team through the Play-Offs, and a team like Poland would have been worst case scenario with Lewandowski.

South Korea (Group A):
South Korea are set to play in a group with Mexico, South Africa, and the winner of UEFA Play-Off Path D. Mexico is a favorable matchup for South Korea – the two sides drew in a match played in Nashville earlier this year. South Korea’s backline should be able to compete against Mexico and they should be able to create chances on the break – chances that Son Heung-Min, Hwang Hee-Chan, Lee Kang-In can all capitalize on.

As for South Africa, that’s an unfavorable matchup. South Africa are a great counter attacking team. High tempo play, pace on the counter on the wings is the tough matchup against this South Korean team. The Korean fullbacks, for as great as they are going forward, can struggle defensively and will be tested by South Africa.

Uzbekistan (Group K):
Iran are in a group that features Portugal, Colombia, and the winner of the Inter-Confederation Play-Offs Pathway 1. Portugal’s midfield will be a tough matchup for Uzbekistan, a team that recently just won the Nations League this year.

Colombia is also quite the tough matchup. Colombia have a lot of quality in the wide channels and Uzbekistan are strong down the middle but aren’t necessarily defensively as good in those fullback positions. A really tough draw overall for Uzbekistan.

Most Favorable AFC Draw: Iran.

Least Favorable AFC Draw: Iraq, if they qualify. If not, Jordan.

World Cup Match Schedule:

Group Stage MD 1 (June 11-17, 2026)
Group Stage MD 2 (June 18-23, 2026)
Group Stage MD 3 (June 24-27, 2026)
Round of 32 (June 28-July 3, 2026)
Round of 16 (July 4-7, 2026)
Quarterfinals (July 9-11, 2026)
Semifinals (July 14-15, 2026)
Third Place Match (July 18, 2026)
Final (July 19, 2026)

By Kenta Hagiwara

If you’re interested in Asian soccer, check out my podcast – The Asian Football Show – an AFC credentialed Asian football podcast, in English! Available wherever you get your podcasts.