The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled from June 11 to July 19, hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The tournament’s group stage draw will take place on Friday, December 5, at 5:00 PM GMT, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
A total of 48 teams will compete in the World Cup. Nine African nations have already qualified, while the Democratic Republic of Congo could join depending on the results of the intercontinental playoffs.
Six additional teams will secure their places through these decisive matches in Mexico in March 2026.
FIFA Announces Four Pots for the Draw
FIFA revealed the four pots for the 2026 World Cup group stage draw on November 26, 2025. African teams Morocco and Senegal, ranked 11th and 19th in the FIFA rankings, are placed in Pot 2 alongside several strong teams from other continents.
The four pots are as follows:
- Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, United States, 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, South Africa
- Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, winners of European play-offs A-D, winners of FIFA play-off tournaments 1 and 2
These pots will determine the matchups in the first round, creating either favorable paths or tough challenges for the African teams.
African Teams Face High Stakes in the Draw
Morocco and Senegal, Africa’s highest-ranked teams, could enjoy relatively easy groups or be drawn against some of the tournament favorites. For Morocco, a favorable draw might include Belgium, New Zealand, and Haiti, while a challenging group could feature Spain, Norway, and Jordan.
Senegal could face France, Qatar, and Curaçao in a manageable group, or Germany, Paraguay, and Jordan in a more difficult one.
Teams in Pot 3 have unpredictable draws. Egypt might be grouped with Brazil, South Korea, and New Zealand, or with the Netherlands, Austria, and Curaçao. Algeria could find itself facing France, Ecuador, and Haiti, or a tougher group with Argentina, Switzerland, and Jordan.
Tunisia’s first-round opponents could range from England, Uruguay, and New Zealand in a difficult draw to Portugal, Austria, and Haiti in a favorable one.
Ivory Coast makes its return after missing multiple tournaments. The Elephants could be drawn into a challenging group with Germany, Colombia, and Panama, or a softer group with Mexico, Australia, and Curaçao.
South Africa, absent from the World Cup since 2010, could face a tough lineup including Spain, Croatia, and Jordan, or a slightly easier group with Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand.
Teams from Pot 4, Ghana and Cape Verde, are likely to face strong competition. Ghana could be drawn with Canada, Austria, and Panama for a favorable start, or with Argentina, Japan, and Uzbekistan in a more difficult group.
Cape Verde will make their World Cup debut and could play against France, South Korea, and Norway, or a more manageable group featuring the United States, Ecuador, and Qatar.