The World Cup group-stage draw took place on Friday, as the world's biggest players found out which countries they will be coming up against in North America next summer.
The 48 teams have not yet been finalized, with six spots still up for grabs via the play-offs, but excitement is already growing ahead of the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Liverpool will be well represented at the tournament, with over a dozen players representing countries from all over the globe.
Liverpool will likely have more players representing the Netherlands than any other country, with Virgil van Dijk, Jeremie Frimpong, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo all set for inclusion in Ronald Koeman's squad.
Group games against Wataru Endo's Japan and Tunisia await, and while the final country in that group is yet to be confirmed, we do know that it will be one of Poland, Ukraine, Sweden, or Albania.
France is another country that will probably have multiple Liverpool players in its squad in Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate. Les Bleus have been drawn in a group with Senegal and Norway, as well as either Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname.
Andy Robertson knows the identity of all three countries that he will be leading Scotland into battle against: Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti.
That first opponent will see Robertson come up against Liverpool teammate Alisson — provided the goalkeeper can stay fit for the tournament after more than a year of injury issues.
With Germany, Florian Wirtz will come up against Ecuador, Ivory Coast, and Curacao, while Curtis Jones – though his spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad is not assured — knows that games against Croatia, Panama, and Ghana await the Three Lions.
2022 winner Alexis Mac Allister will face Austria, Algeria, Jordan with Argentina, while Mohamed Salah's Egypt is in a group with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand.
Italy (Federico Chiesa), Sweden (Alexander Isak) and Northern Ireland (Conor Bradley) all face play-offs in March to try and make it to the tournament proper.
Full 2026 FIFA World Cup draw results
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Republic of Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Wales/Northern Ireland/Italy/Bosnia-Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Poland/Ukraine/Sweden/Albania
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

1 day ago
5








English (US) ·