FIFA World Cup draw courtesy of the favourites

Friday’s FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC put top teams Argentina, Spain and England in seemingly favorable groups for the 2026 tournament to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

However, France will face more difficult matches against Senegal and Norway.

Holders Argentina and top contenders Spain and England were awarded courtesy of draws for the 2026 World Cup at a star-studded ceremony on Friday where US President Donald Trump received FIFA’s new peace prize.

The event in Washington began the final countdown to the tournament, six months before the first 48-team World Cup, with long-awaited France among those given a tougher task.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina will begin their defense of the trophy they won in Qatar 2022 against Algeria, while also facing Austria and debutants Jordan in Group J.

Hotly-fancied European champions Spain will kick things off with Cape Verde’s first qualifier before also facing Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.

Thomas Tuchel’s England will meet Croatia, Ghana and Panama in a beautiful Group L.

Two-time winners France, meanwhile, face tough tests against Senegal and Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I, which will be completed by a winner of the intercontinental play-off from Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname.

The 2026 tournament will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, with 16 more teams added to the global showcase, from the 32 nations that participated in Qatar in 2022.

That means a total of 104 games, compared to 64 last time.

While the US will host the majority of the games, including the final at MetLife Stadium outside New York, three of the 16 venues will be in Mexico and two in Canada.

“We have worked closely with these two countries and the coordination, the friendship and the relationship has been excellent,” Trump said at the Kennedy Center after receiving his award from FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“It’s really one of the great honors of my life. It’s a great honor to be with Gianni. He’s done such an incredible job,” he added.

“The world is a safer place now. The United States a year ago wasn’t doing very well, but now it’s the hottest country in the world.”

Brazil will face Morocco

Trump grabbed the spotlight, but Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum were also in attendance.

While snow fell outside amid freezing temperatures in the US capital, some of the biggest stars in American sports and entertainment took the stage inside.

The event was co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and American actor and comedian Kevin Hart and featured performances by the Village People, Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli.

NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal were among the stars who helped run the draw.

Elsewhere in the draw, co-hosts Mexico face South Africa in Group A in the opening game of the tournament at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil and surprise 2022 semi-finalists Morocco have been drawn together in Group C, which also features Scotland and Haiti.

Germany’s opponents in Group E will be Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Caribbean side Curacao, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal face Uzbekistan, Colombia and a play-off winner.

“The Greatest Event in Humanity”

The United States cobbled together a manageable draw, with Paraguay, Australia and a European playoff winner in Group D.

“It will be the greatest World Cup ever, the greatest event mankind has ever seen. We have three beautiful countries, 16 wonderful host cities, 48 ​​great teams competing in 104 matches to become the one and only world champion,” Infantino said.

“It’s like 104 Super Bowls in one month — that’s the magnitude of what we’re putting on,” he added of the tournament.

Six finals spots have yet to be decided in the playoffs to be held in March.

Due to the complexity, teams will only know full details of match venues and kick-off times on Saturday, one day after the draw.