World Cup draw: group-by-group analysis for the 2026 tournament

The article provides an overview of the FIFA World Cup, including information on each group, teams, and players. Here are some key points from the article:

**Group A**

* Spain is the number one team in the FIFA rankings and has a strong squad with good depth in every position.
* Uruguay started strongly under Marcelo Bielsa but have declined since a humiliating 5-1 defeat by the USA last month.

**Group B**

* France face Senegal, who beat them in the opening game in 2002. France have absurd depth in every position, but are struggling to fit Mbappé into a coherent system.
* Norway qualified with a 100% record as top scorers in Europe: 37 goals in eight games.

**Group C**

* Belgium and Egypt are emerging from the shadow of golden generations. Belgium were erratic in qualification, while Egypt have been the most successful side in African history but failed to qualify during their golden period 15-20 years ago.
* Saudi Arabia lurched through qualifying, forced into the fourth-round repechage, conveniently held in Jeddah.

**Group D**

* Argentina went 28 years without winning anything, but in the past four years under Lionel Scaloni they've lifted not only the World Cup but also two Copas América. The question is whether Lionel Messi is still worth his place in the starting lineup.
* Albania and Australia are the other teams in this group.

**Group E**

* England went to a World Cup with hope, but expectation after Thomas Tuchel's appointment with a specific brief: to win the World Cup. They qualified without conceding a goal and have the greatest array of creative talent any England manager has been able to choose from.
* Iran are on Donald Trump's travel ban list, potentially presenting logistical problems.

**Group F**

* Brazil is the team to beat in this group, with a strong squad that includes Neymar, Richarlison, and Rodrygo.
* Peru have been the best side in South America so far, but may struggle against the more established teams.

**Group G**

* Germany are one of the strongest teams in the tournament, with a talented squad that includes Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Thomas Muller.
* Costa Rica passed through qualifying without conceding a goal.

**Group H**

* Spain is the number one team in the FIFA rankings and has a strong squad. They qualified with ease, dropping only two points in their group.
* Portugal's Cristian Ronaldo, 40, will be available for the start of the tournament, but his lack of mobility may be a problem.

**Group I**

* Argentina is the team to beat in this group, with Lionel Messi still worth his place in the starting lineup.
* England face Croatia in their final game. The highest-ranked of the pot two sides, they qualified with ease, dropping only two points in their group.

**Group J**

* France are struggling to fit Mbappé into a coherent system.
* Spain's attack is strong, but may struggle against the more established teams.

**Group K**

* Portugal has a talented squad that includes Cristiano Ronaldo and Bernardo Silva.
* Uruguay started strongly under Marcelo Bielsa but have declined since a humiliating 5-1 defeat by the USA last month.

**Group L**

* England qualified without conceding a goal and have the greatest array of creative talent any England manager has been able to choose from.
* Croatia passed through qualifying without conceding a goal.

i mean, have u seen how stacked argentina's squad is? Lionel messi still lookin like he just started playin or smthn lol! also, france need to figure out how to fit mbappé into their lineup already... but hey, brazil looks like the team to beat in group f, with that squad they got! what u guys think?

I'm not sure I buy all this hype about Spain being number one in the FIFA rankings . What exactly does that even mean? Is it based on some sort of complex formula or just a fancy ranking system? And what's with Uruguay declining after that 5-1 loss to the USA? A single defeat shouldn't be enough to wipe out an entire team's progress . I'd need to see more evidence before I start calling Spain the clear favorite . Also, how did Norway qualify with a 100% record? Did they play some sort of friendly tournament or what?

I'm kinda thinking that Lionel Messi's time is coming to an end... like, he's still got some tricks up his sleeve, but 40 and playing in the World Cup? It's gonna be tough for him to keep up with the pace of the game. And let's be real, Argentina has got some talented young players who could potentially take over his role in the starting lineup. Plus, they've had such a dominant run in Copa América lately, it's hard to deny that their squad is full of life and energy right now. But hey, you can't count Messi out just yet...

just got done reading about the FIFA World Cup groups and i gotta say, some teams look super stacked! like france is looking pretty weak right now, struggling to fit mbappé into their system and brazil is on fire can't wait for the tournament to start already! but at the same time, it's always hard to predict what'll happen in a big competition u gotta respect all teams for making it this far

the world cup is finally here i think what's really exciting this time around is the depth in every team - i mean, we're talking about top-notch squads that can compete with anyone on their day. and it's not just about the big-name players like messi or mbappé either, it's about the entire squad and how well they mesh together

it's crazy how expectation can weigh on teams like england, they're all about winning the world cup now and it's putting pressure on them. what if they don't perform? that's when you gotta remind yourself that winning isn't everything, it's about enjoying the journey too

I'm not buying into all the hype around Spain being the number one team in the FIFA rankings . Marcelo Bielsa is an awesome coach, but sometimes his tactics can be a bit too defensive-minded for my taste . I think Uruguay had a solid start under him and they were doing great until that embarrassing defeat to the USA last month . The US team is no joke, by the way! Their squad depth is crazy .

And France is struggling to find their rhythm, but I still have faith in Mbappé . He's an incredible player and will come good eventually. The pressure on them to perform is just too much sometimes . But Norway, wow! 37 goals in eight games? That's wild . They're definitely a team to watch out for in this tournament.

Germany's squad is looking fire , especially with Haaland, Bellingham, and Muller on board . Can't wait to see how they perform in the tournament . Also, France gotta figure out what's goin' on with Mbappé . Is he gonna be fit for the opener?

I'm low-key excited for the World Cup but also kinda concerned that Lionel Messi is 40 now, he must be getting creaky in the knees... or should I say, "creaking" . Still, Argentina looks solid, and if anyone can fit him into a coherent system, it's Scaloni. But seriously, have you seen Neymar's hair? It's like he stuck his finger in a socket .

I think Spain is getting a bad rap, man . They're number one in the FIFA rankings for a reason! Their squad depth is insane and they've qualified with ease. People are just expecting too much from them after that golden generation retired . Uruguay's decline since their loss to the USA last month has gotten way out of hand . And can we talk about how unfair it is on Mbappé? He's still one of the best players in the world , but France just can't seem to get him settled into a system . And Norway qualifying with 37 goals in eight games? That's incredible!

Honestly, I'm getting so tired of all these articles on FIFA World Cup lineups I mean, who cares about the teams in each group? It's not like we've seen this same info a million times before. Can't they just give us some juicy gossip or behind-the-scenes drama instead of rehashing the same old stats and facts? And don't even get me started on how outdated their format is The article looks like it was written for someone who's actually going to follow all 32 teams in the tournament... please, most of us are just here for the highlight reels

I'm not convinced about all these teams being considered favorites just because they're ranked high or have star players . What's the point of having Messi if he's still on his last legs? And don't even get me started on Mbappé, France needs to sort out their system before they can make a real impact .

And have you seen the travel ban issues with Iran? It's not just about logistics, it's about the bigger picture . What's the point of having the best players if they're not allowed to compete due to politics?

And let's be real, 40-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo is still going strong? Is he really worth the hype? I think teams are relying too much on these old-timers and not enough on young talent .

Lastly, I'm just waiting for someone to mess up so we can find out who's actually good . All this hype is making me nervous .

the world cup is so hyped , i mean who doesnt love a good soccer tournament right? but u know what's even more hyped? nostalgia for past world cups i was just reading about the 2002 world cup and man, france vs senegal in the group stage still gives me chills . and can we talk about how far argentina has come under lionel scaloni? like 28 years without a trophy is crazy but now they're on fire cant wait to see if messi is still good enough to start for them

England's squad looks super stacked , with creativity galore! I think Tuchel did an amazing job building that team, they've got some serious firepower ️. Now, can we talk about Mbappé for a sec? I mean, he's still an absolute genius on the pitch, but France need to figure out how to fit him into their system. And what's with all the hype around Spain again? They've got a solid squad, no doubt, but they're not invincible just yet ️.