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World Cup Simulator

Group guide

World Cup 2026 Groups

A plain-English group guide for the 48-team World Cup 2026 predictor, with all 12 groups listed for quick ranking.

Unofficial fan-made site for entertainment and prediction. It is not affiliated with FIFA, the World Cup, host committees, teams, federations, broadcasters, betting operators, or prize providers.

How the group stage works

The 2026 format has 48 teams split into 12 groups of four. Each team plays the other three teams in its group once. Group winners and runners-up advance automatically, and eight third-place teams join them in the Round of 32.

Teams
48
Groups
A to L
Group matches
72
Knockout field
32 teams
Rank the groups

All groups

DirectWildcard laneEliminated

Group A

4 teams
  1. 1MexicoMexico is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2South AfricaSouth Africa is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3Korea RepublicKorea Republic is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4CzechiaCzechia is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group B

4 teams
  1. 1CanadaCanada is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3QatarQatar is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4SwitzerlandSwitzerland is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group C

4 teams
  1. 1BrazilBrazil is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2MoroccoMorocco is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3HaitiHaiti is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4ScotlandScotland is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group D

4 teams
  1. 1United StatesUnited States is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2ParaguayParaguay is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3AustraliaAustralia is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4TurkiyeTurkiye is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group E

4 teams
  1. 1GermanyGermany is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2CuracaoCuracao is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3Cote d'IvoireCote d'Ivoire is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4EcuadorEcuador is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group F

4 teams
  1. 1NetherlandsNetherlands is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2JapanJapan is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3SwedenSweden is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4TunisiaTunisia is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group G

4 teams
  1. 1BelgiumBelgium is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2EgyptEgypt is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3IranIran is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4New ZealandNew Zealand is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group H

4 teams
  1. 1SpainSpain is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2Cabo VerdeCabo Verde is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4UruguayUruguay is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group I

4 teams
  1. 1FranceFrance is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2SenegalSenegal is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3IraqIraq is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4NorwayNorway is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group J

4 teams
  1. 1ArgentinaArgentina is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2AlgeriaAlgeria is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3AustriaAustria is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4JordanJordan is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group K

4 teams
  1. 1PortugalPortugal is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2Congo DRCongo DR is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3UzbekistanUzbekistan is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4ColombiaColombia is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

Group L

4 teams
  1. 1EnglandEngland is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  2. 2CroatiaCroatia is listed as direct in the static group guide.
  3. 3GhanaGhana is listed as wildcard lane in the static group guide.
  4. 4PanamaPanama is listed as eliminated in the static group guide.

What to decide before ranking

Try to separate your picks into three bands: likely top-two teams, third-place candidates, and fourth-place exits. The predictor treats first and second as automatic qualifiers, then asks you to choose the eight third-place groups you trust most.

Third-place qualificationSee how the eight wildcard places fit into the 48-team format.OpenGroup scheduleScan early dates and fixtures before making form-based picks.Open

Official-source check

Group and format facts were checked on 2026-06-03. These pages are original summaries, while the official FIFA pages and regulations remain the authority for public launch.