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All 12 groups

48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four. Open any group for teams, venues, and the full fixture list.

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Frequently asked questions

How many groups are in the 2026 World Cup?

Twelve groups labelled A through L, each with four nations—48 teams before knockouts.

How many teams advance from each group?

Top two auto-advance; eight of twelve third-place teams also qualify for a 32-team knockout.

When is the group stage?

Round-robin play runs 11–26 June 2026; knockouts begin 28 June 2026.

How many matches are in the group stage?

72 group matches—six per group in round-robin.

Which group is the group of death?

FIFA does not name one; compare seeds and rankings in each preview.

Are the host nations in the same group?

No—USA, Mexico, and Canada anchor separate groups.

How is the group tiebreaker decided?

Order: points, goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head, fair play, then draw.

What happens to third-placed teams?

The eight best third-place records join winners and runners-up in the Round of 32.