Australia’s Socceroos are set to learn their 2026 FIFA World Cup fate as the all-important group stage draw is held early on Saturday morning (AEDT) in Washington DC. Follow live below from 4am AEDT!
The first ever 48-team World Cup will see 12 groups of four nations each drawn under a strict set of rules.
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Thanks to some favourable results in European qualifying, the Socceroos were the last team into the second of four pots, which are seeded based on each nation’s FIFA world ranking. This should theoretically hand them an easier draw than they are used to receiving however it will heavily depend on luck.
Follow live updates from the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw below!
WORLD CUP DRAW PREVIEW: Who Australia can face after sneaking into Pot 2
MOST LIKELY AUSSIE GROUP: Socceroos’ chances of drawing each nation
Teams cannot be drawn in a group with those from their own confederation (in Australia’s case, meaning Asian teams) nor from their own pot, with the exception that each group must have at least one and potentially two European teams.
For the Socceroos, that leaves 12 possible opponents from Pot 1, nine possible opponents from Pot 3 and 10 possible opponents from Pot 4, though restrictions will be placed on the group as it is drawn based on the confederation of each nation.
For example should the Socceroos be drawn into a group with one of the host nations – USA, Mexico or Canada – they could not be drawn with another North and Central American team such as Pot 4 minnows Curacao or Haiti.
Australia’s worst-case scenario is drawing a South American side (Argentina or Brazil) from Pot 1, because then it’s most likely they will draw a European qualifier from Pot 4.
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Six places in Pot 4 are reserved for teams who are yet to qualify – four in the European Play-Off and two in the Interconfederation Play-Off. These reserved places count as representatives of their confederation/s for the purposes of avoiding other teams in that confederation.
The draw will also balance out the four top seeds so they are on other sides of the draw – meaning world No.1 Spain cannot meet world No.2 Argentina until the final, should they both win their groups. The same will occur for world No.3 France and world No.4 England.
Teams will be drawn into specific placements in their groups based on a predefined pattern and this will determine which opponents they play on which matchdays.
The full match schedule will be confirmed on Sunday morning (4am AEDT).
The draw can be watched in Australia on SBS (TV and streaming).
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP POTS
Each group will contain one nation from each pot
Pot 1: Canada (host), Mexico (host), USA (host), Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, UEFA Playoff Team 1 (Italy, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Northern Ireland), UEFA Playoff Team 2 (Denmark, Czechia, Ireland or North Macedonia), UEFA Playoff Team 3 (Turkiye, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania), UEFA Playoff Team 4 (Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden), IC Playoff Team 1 (DR Congo, New Caledonia or Jamaica), IC Playoff Team 2 (Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname)
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WHERE WILL EACH GROUP PLAY ITS GAMES?
Group A (Mexico): Mexico City x2, Guadalajara x2, Monterrey, Atlanta
Group B (Canada): Vancouver x2, Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle
Group C: Boston x2, New York x2, Atlanta, Miami
Group D (USA): Los Angeles x2, San Francisco x2, Vancouver, Seattle
Group E: Philadelphia x2, New York, Toronto, Houston, Kansas City
Group F: Monterrey x2, Dallas x2, Houston, Kansas City
Group G: Seattle x2, Vancouver x2, Los Angeles x2
Group H: Atlanta x2, Miami x2, Houston, Guadalajara
Group I: Boston x2, New York x2, Philadelphia, Toronto
Group J: Kansas City x2, Dallas x2, San Francisco x2
Group K: Houston x2, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Atlanta, Miami
Group L: Toronto x2, Dallas, Boston, Philadelphia, New York
GROUP POSITION GUIDE (For determining match schedule)
Group A: Mexico, Pot 3, Pot 2, Pot 4
Group B: Canada, Pot 4, Pot 3, Pot 2
Group C: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 4, Pot 3
Group D: USA, Pot 3, Pot 2, Pot 4
Group E: Pot 1, Pot 4, Pot 3, Pot 2
Group F: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 4, Pot 3
Group G: Pot 1, Pot 3, Pot 2, Pot 4
Group H: Pot 1, Pot 4, Pot 3, Pot 2
Group I: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 4, Pot 3
Group J: Pot 1, Pot 3, Pot 2, Pot 4
Group K: Pot 1, Pot 4, Pot 3, Pot 2
Group L: Pot 1, Pot 2, Pot 4, Pot 3
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WHO DO THE WINNERS FROM EACH GROUP PLAY IN THE KNOCKOUTS?
All dates Australian time
Group A
Winner vs Third Placer from Group C/E/F/H/I – July 1, Mexico City
Runner-Up vs Group B Runner-Up – June 29, Los Angeles
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group E/G – June 30, Boston or July 2, Seattle
Group B
Winner vs Third Placer from Group E/F/G/I/J – July 3, Vancouver
Runner-Up vs Group A Runner-Up – June 29, Los Angeles
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group D/E – June 30, Boston or July 2, San Francisco
Group C
Winner vs Group F Runner-Up – June 30, Houston
Runner-Up vs Winner Group F – June 30, Monterrey
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/E/I
Group D
Winner vs Third Placer from Group B/E/F/I/J – July 2, San Francisco
Runner-Up vs Group G Runner-Up – July 4, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group E/I/K
Group E
Winner vs Third Placer from Group A/B/C/D/F – June 30, Boston
Runner-Up vs Group I Runner-Up – July 1, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/G/K/L
Group F
Winner vs Group C Runner-Up – June 30, Monterrey
Runner-Up vs Winner Group C – June 30, Houston
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/E/I
Group G
Winner vs Third Placer from Group A/E/H/I/J – July 2, Seattle
Runner-Up vs Group D Runner-Up – July 4, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group B/I – July 3, Vancouver or July 1, New York
Group H
Winner vs Group J Runner-Up – July 3, Los Angeles
Runner-Up vs Winner Group J – July 4, Miami
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/G/I/L
Group I
Winner vs Third Placer from Group C/D/F/G/H – July 1, New York
Runner-Up vs Group E Runner-Up – July 1, Dallas
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group A/B/D/G/K/L
Group J
Winner vs Group H Runner-Up – July 4, Miami
Runner-Up vs Group H Winner – July 3, Los Angeles
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group B/D/G/K/L
Group K
Winner vs Third Placer from Group D/E/I/J/L – July 4, Kansas City
Runner-Up vs Group L Runner-Up – July 3, Toronto
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group L – July 2, Atlanta
Group L
Winner vs Third Placer from Group E/H/I/J/K – July 2, Atlanta
Runner-Up vs Group K Runner-Up – July 3, Toronto
Potential Third Placer vs Winner from Group K – July 4, Kansas City
Group Winner, Runner-Up plus eight best-ranked Third Place finishers all advance
Specific opponents for best Third Place finishers will be determined after the final matchday, based on which groups they emerge from
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP SCHEDULE
All dates Australian time, times TBA the day after the draw
Match start times are unknown but based on the Club World Cup, a reasonable guess would be timeslots of 2am/5am/8am/11am AEST. Matches will be arranged on each day based on suitability for home TV audiences
Friday, 12 June 2026
Match 1 – Group A (Mexico #1) – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Match 2 – Group A – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Saturday, 13 June 2026
Match 3 – Group B (Canada #1) – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 4 – Group D (USA #1) – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Sunday, 14 June 2026
Match 5 – Group C – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 6 – Group D – BC Place, Vancouver
Match 7 – Group C – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 8 – Group B – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Monday, 15 June 2026
Match 9 – Group E – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 10 – Group E – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 11 – Group F – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 12 – Group F – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Match 13 – Group H – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 14 – Group H – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 15 – Group G – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 16 – Group G – Lumen Field, Seattle
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Match 17 – Group I – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 18 – Group I – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 19 – Group J – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 20 – Group J – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Match 21 – Group L – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 22 – Group L – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 23 – Group K – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 24 – Group K – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Friday, 19 June 2026
Match 25 – Group A – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 26 – Group B – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 27 – Group B – (Canada #2) – BC Place, Vancouver
Match 28 – Group A – (Mexico #2) – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Saturday, 20 June 2026
Match 29 – Group C – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 30 – Group C – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 31 – Group D – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Match 32 – Group D (USA #2) – Lumen Field, Seattle
Sunday, 21 June 2026
Match 33 – Group E – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 34 – Group E – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 35 – Group F – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 36 – Group F – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Monday, 22 June 2026
Match 37 – Group H – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 38 – Group H – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 39 – Group G – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 40 – Group G – BC Place, Vancouver
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Match 41 – Group I – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 42 – Group I – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 43 – Group J – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 44 – Group J – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Match 45 – Group L – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 46 – Group L – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 47 – Group K – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 48 – Group K – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Thursday, 25 June 2026
Match 49 – Group C – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 50 – Group C – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 51 – Group B – (Canada #3) – BC Place, Vancouver
Match 52 – Group B – Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 53 – Group A – (Mexico #3) – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Match 54 – Group A – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Friday, 26 June 2026
Match 55 – Group E – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 56 – Group E – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 57 – Group F – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 58 – Group F – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 59 – Group D – (USA #3) – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 60 – Group D – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Saturday, 27 June 2026
Match 61 – Group I – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 62 – Group I – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 63 – Group G – Lumen Field, Seattle
Match 64 – Group G – BC Place, Vancouver
Match 65 – Group H – NRG Stadium, Houston
Match 66 – Group H – Estadio Akron, Guadalajara
Sunday, 28 June 2026
Match 67 – Group L – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 68 – Group L – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 69 – Group J – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 70 – Group J – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 71 – Group K – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 72 – Group K – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
ROUND OF 32
Monday, 29 June 2026
Match 73 – Runner-Up Group A vs Runner-Up Group B – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Match 74 – Winner Group E vs Third-Place Group A/B/C/D/F – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Match 75 – Winner Group F vs Runner-Up Group C – Estadio BBVA, Monterrey
Match 76 – Winner Group C vs Runner-Up Group F – NRG Stadium, Houston
Wednesday, 1 July 2026
Match 77 – Winner Group I vs Third-Place Group C/D/F/G/H – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 78 – Runner-Up Group E vs Runner-Up Group I – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 79 – Winner Group A vs Third-Place Group C/E/F/H/I – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Match 80 – Winner Group L vs Third-Place Group E/H/I/J/K – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 81 – Winner Group D vs Third-Place Group B/E/F/I/J – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara (San Francisco)
Match 82 – Winner Group G vs Third-Place Group A/E/H/I/J – Lumen Field, Seattle
Friday, 3 July 2026
Match 83 – Runner-Up Group K vs Runner-Up Group L – BMO Field, Toronto
Match 84 – Winner Group H vs Runner-Up Group J – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Match 85 – Winner Group B vs Third-Place Group E/F/G/I/J – BC Place, Vancouver
Saturday, 4 July 2026
Match 86 – Winner Group J vs Runner-Up Group H – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 87 – Winner Group K vs Third-Place Group D/E/I/J/L – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
Match 88 – Runner-Up Group D vs Runner-Up Group G – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
ROUND OF 16
Sunday, 5 July 2026
Match 89 – Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77 – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Match 90 – Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75 – NRG Stadium, Houston
Monday, 6 July 2026
Match 91 – Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78 – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)
Match 92 – Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80 – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Match 93 – Winner Match 83 vs Winner March 84 – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Match 94 – Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82 – Lumen Field, Seattle
Wednesday, 8 July 2026
Match 95 – Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Match 96 – Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87 – BC Place, Vancouver
QUARTER-FINALS
Friday, 10 July 2026
Match 97 – Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90 – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston)
Saturday, 11 July 2026
Match 98 – Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94 – SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles
Sunday, 12 July 2026
Match 99 – Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Match 100 – Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96 – Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City
SEMI-FINALS
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Match 101 – Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98 – AT&T Stadium, Arlington (Dallas)
Thursday, 16 July 2026
Match 102 – Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
THIRD-PLACE GAME
Sunday, 19 July 2026
Match 103 – Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102 – Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
WORLD CUP FINAL
Monday, 20 July 2026
Match 104 – Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102 – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New York)