Argentina’s World Cup group stage rivals have been revealed: Algeria, Austria and debutants Jordan.
It’s a beneficial draw for the reigning champions, who lifted the trophy final day trip on the Qatar 2022 World Cup after profitable an exciting 4-3 win over France within the ultimate.
Lionel Scaloni’s aspect managed to keep away from the large hitters and would be the sizzling favourites to qualify for the knockout stage.
5-time winners Brazil play 2022 semi-finalists Morocco in addition to Scotland and Haiti of their group, whereas France tackle Senegal, Norway and a qualifier from the play-offs of their group.
The occasion in Washington began the ultimate countdown to the match, six months out from the first-ever 48-team World Cup, with much-fancied France amongst these receiving a more durable process.
Closely-fancied Spain, the European champions, will kick off their marketing campaign towards first-time qualfiers Cape Verde earlier than additionally taking over Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.
Thomas Tuchel’s England will hope to win Group L that options crushed 2018 finalists Croatia in addition to Ghana and Panama.
Two-time winners France, in the meantime, face awkward checks towards Senegal and Erling Haaland’s Norway in Group I, which might be accomplished by an intercontinental play-off winner from both Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname.
The 2026 match might be held throughout the USA, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, with 16 extra groups added to the worldwide showpiece, up from the 32 nations concerned in Qatar in 2022.
Which means a complete of 104 matches, in comparison with 64 video games final time.
Whereas the US will host the vast majority of matches together with the ultimate on the MetLife Stadium outdoors New York, three of the 16 venues might be in Mexico and two in Canada
Through the ceremony, Scaloni introduced the trophy onstage, utilizing a pair of white gloves to keep away from leaving fingerprints on the trophy.
Recalling the Albiceleste‘s triumph three years in the past, Scaloni stated that his gamers “continued to imagine – at no level did we imagine that the match would finish badly.
Trump given peace prize
Earlier than the draw started on the Kennedy Heart, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who has constructed an in depth relationship with Donald Trump, awarded the US president FIFA’s inaugural peace prize.
FIFA says the honour “recognises the big efforts of these people who unite individuals, bringing hope for future generations,” however most imagine it was created to spice up Trump’s ego, after he failed in his bid for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump referred to as the FIFA prize “one of many nice honours of my life” in a short speech.
Advanced
Essentially the most logistically advanced World Cup in historical past might be held throughout the USA, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, with 16 extra groups added to the worldwide showpiece, up from the 32 nations concerned in Qatar in 2022.
The draw was co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and US actor and comic Kevin Hart, and featured performances by the Village Folks, Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli.
Retired England footballer Rio Ferdinand, NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and former NBA celebrity Shaquille O’Neal have been among the many stars serving to to conduct the draw.
Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece occasion of each his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence subsequent yr.
However he has injected home politics into the preparations, threatening to maneuver World Cup matches from Democratic-run cities if he deems situations “unsafe.”
“I’d name Gianni, the top of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I’d say, let’s transfer it to a different location. And he would try this,” Trump stated lately.
‘Excellent cooperation’
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum drew out the pre-marked balls for his or her nations because the draw began, whereas Trump pulled out the USA ball.
Trump has had tense relations with each of his neighbours in latest months however he hailed the leaders for his or her “excellent” cooperation in serving to organise subsequent yr’s match.
In one other political incident surrounding the draw, Iran vowed to boycott the ceremony as a result of the USA refused to grant visas to a number of members of its delegation. In the long run, Iranian head coach Amir Ghalenoei was on account of attend.
Eleven of the 16 World Cup venues are in the USA, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.
The Azteca Stadium in Mexico Metropolis will host the opening sport and the ultimate will happen on the MetLife Stadium outdoors New York Metropolis.
Albiceleste put title on line
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are the reigning champions after profitable the World Cup for the third time in Qatar in 2022.
Messi will flip 39 throughout the match however this week informed ESPN: “I hope I could be there. I’ve stated earlier than that I might like to be there.”
Argentina have been among the many high seeds together with European champions Spain, file five-time winners Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium. The three host nations full the primary pot of seeds.
The choice to develop the match has additionally cleared the best way for a number of first-time qualifiers, together with Cape Verde, Jordan and Curacao.
Whereas the growth is to not everybody’s liking, FIFA’s head of worldwide soccer growth Arsene Wenger insisted this week that it was a “pure evolution” and that 48 groups is “the appropriate quantity.”
These groups might be break up into 12 teams of 4, with the highest two from every advancing alongside the eight greatest third-placed sides to the final 32.
Due to the complexity, groups will solely be taught the complete particulars of their match venues and kick-off occasions on Saturday, a day after the draw.
World Cup teams
The 12 teams for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026 following Friday’s attract Washington:
Group A
Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, a qualifier
Group B
Canada, a qualifier, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C
Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D
United States, Paraguay, Australia, a qualifier
Group E
Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F
Netherlands, Japan, a qualifier, Tunisia
Group G
Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H
Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I
France, Senegal, qualifier, Norway
Group J
Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group Okay
Portugal, a qualifier, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L
England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
– TIMES/AFP
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