Washington: The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026, conducted on December 5, placed the Arab national teams in relatively balanced groups for the finals, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year.
Group J brings together Algeria and Jordan-who will be making their debut at the World Cup-alongside defending champions Argentina (winners of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022) and Austria.
Elsewhere, Group A features tournament co-host Mexico, together with South Africa, South Korea, and the winner of UEFA Playoff 4, which includes Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, and the Republic of Ireland.
Group D contains another co-host, the United States, along with Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of UEFA Playoff 3 contested by Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo.
Germany headline Group E, joined by Curacao, Cote d'Ivoire, and Ecuador. Last tournament's runners-up France lead Group I alongside Senegal, Norway, and the winner of the second intercontinental playoff, where Iraq will face the victor of the Bolivia-Suriname clash for a place at the finals.
Group K features Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia, and the winner of the first intercontinental playoff, in which the victor of New Caledonia vs. Jamaica will meet the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Group L includes England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
Qatar have been drawn into Group B with Canada, Switzerland, and the winner of UEFA Playoff 1 (Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, or Northern Ireland).
Morocco are placed in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, while Tunisia landed in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan, and the winner of UEFA Playoff 2 (contested by Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and Albania).
Egypt will compete in Group G with Belgium, Iran, and New Zealand. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, were drawn into Group H with Spain, Cape Verde, and Uruguay.
Download the match schedule here.
