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We brought you part one earlier in the week, and now it’s time for part two of our group-by-group guide to the 2026 World Cup.
From reigning champions Argentina to this year’s favourites to lift the trophy (spoiler alert, it’s Spain and France) there are a lot of players and nations to put under the microscope. So we’ve done the hard work for you to help you wrap your head around the expanded 48-team tournament.
The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, and the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to the round of 32.
So here’s the second of a two-part group-by-group guide to the World Cup.
Group G
The favourite: Belgium
What we think: If Belgium’s ageing golden generation could have picked their own World Cup group, it might not have looked much different to what Rudi Garcia’s team have been drawn. That is to say that Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and company appear safe from a repeat of their Qatar 2022 catastrophe. More demanding – possibly insurmountable – obstacles await in subsequent rounds, but at least this veteran-stacked squad can confidently atone for their group-stage exit four years ago.
Mo Salah’s Egypt should be hot on Belgium’s heels, riding on an experienced squad including Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush and a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations semi-final run, not to mention an undefeated World Cup qualifying campaign that ensured their tournament return after failing to qualify for 2022.
Off-field matters could well overshadow Group G, as Iran prepare to compete inside the very country that subjected their home state to airstrikes just three months ago. The ongoing conflict will pose a major distraction to Iran’s attempts to progress past the group stage for the first time at their seventh appearance. And what will be the biggest distraction to New Zealand’s first finals since 2010? Defender Tim Payne’s overnight Instagram fame, of course.
Group H
The favourite: Spain
What we think: A lopsided group if ever there was one, with Spain and Uruguay almost certainly the top two finishers while Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde will struggle for a point. Spain, of course, are one of the tournament favourites, and the Euro 2024 champions have Lamine Yamal headlining their embarrassment of riches. The question is whether the Barcelona livewire will be fully recovered from injury and, on a broader level, how Spain’s beautiful brand of football will fare at a World Cup at which success could come from attritional play.
How will they fare in North American conditions against the intensity and aggressive pressing of Uruguay? This is certainly a more utilitarian Marcelo Bielsa side, with a rock-hard core anchored by Federico Valverde. But then, Bielsa’s generational renovation has also been mired in controversy and public tensions leading to the Argentine manager’s declaration in November that he is “toxic”.
Saudi Arabia have already proved capable of an almighty upset, given their Qatar 2022 group-stage defeat of eventual champions Argentina, though the French manager whose dramatic half-time team talk inspired the famous win was sacked in April. Herve Renard led Saudi to a second consecutive qualification during his second stint, but was replaced by Georgios Donis with two months to prepare and an uphill battle for the 2034 World Cup hosts. Their best chance at scoring will come against Cape Verde, though the World Cup debutants – with their eclectic squad of players from 25 clubs across 14 countries – are accustomed to navigating tricky tasks and could yet spring a plucky surprise.
Group I
The favourite: France
What we think: France should not only top the group but also come close to winning the whole thing. That was also the case last time Les Bleus faced Senegal at a World Cup, when in 2002 and as reigning champs, they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat and embarrassingly went out in the group stage. There should be no blushes here for Didier Deschamps’s side; the squad boasts quality, depth and tournament-winning experience across the park. It’s a team supposedly built on defence, but all eyes will be on the all-star frontline of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and captain Kylian Mbappe. Then there’s the support cast that includes PSG pairing Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué.
Another attacking superstar, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, will lead Norway’s push as they compete with Senegal for second spot in this group. Norway makes its first World Cup appearance in 28 years with its “Golden generation,” which also includes Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard, Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, and the so-called Norwegian Neymar, 21-year-old Antonio Nusa.
Senegal too boasts a squad with European football pedigree and some youth, and qualified by scoring 22 goals and conceding just three. Even if they place third in the group, a round of 32 likely awaits them. Iraqi coach and former Socceroos boss Graham Arnold has adopted a “nothing to lose”, all-pressure-is-off approach, but the Lions of Mesopotamia will be up against it here. No matter the results, nothing will detract from the efforts in making their first World Cup in 40 years.
Group J
The favourite: Argentina
What we think: Cup holders Argentina are back with many of the same faces who won in Qatar, again led by coach Lionel Scaloni and superstar Lionel Messi and having also claimed the 2024 Copa América since. Yet questions remain. How much of a fading force is Messi, who celebrates turning 39 during the tournament?
Is the desire in the squad still there? Have goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Tottenham defender Cristian Romero recovered from injury? Their pre-tournament hit-outs offered few answers, as they opted to face low-calibre opponents, including 90th-ranked Zambia and Mauritania, at 113th.
The group stage might not indicate where they are truly at, as they should top it comfortably. Austria has kept a stable team for some years, and that collective is their strength rather than an individual superstar. German-coach Ralf Rangnick is a big proponent of the high-intensity counter-press that should get them through to the round of 32.
Algeria are something of an unknown, having had a comfortable and dominant qualifying run but against weak opponents. Their recent 1-0 win over the highly fancied Netherlands offers some reason for optimism. Jordan makes its World Cup finals debut but will struggle, especially without star striker Yazan Al-Naimat, who misses out with injury.
Group K
The favourite: Portugal
What we think: Portugal versus Colombia is a potential blockbuster match of the group stages – and will surprisingly be the first time these nations have met on a football pitch. That result should determine who finishes first and second.
Cristiano Ronaldo, at his sixth World Cup, is the only remaining member of the Portuguese team that won the 2016 Euros, but arrives with a side that beat World Cup favourites Spain in the Nations League last June. Along with Ronaldo, the midfield includes English Premier League playmakers Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva and defensive anchor Ruben Dias.
Australian fans will remember Colombia from last November when they put the Socceroos to the sword with a 3-0 win. Results have been mixed since (losses to France and Croatia and wins against Costa Rica and Jordan), but attacker Luis Diaz comes to his first World Cup in the form of his career after a successful season at Bayern Munich.
Congo DR, ending a 52-year World Cup absence (having last competed as Zaire) should pose some challenges with a squad consisting of high-profile European-based players, including West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa and Cedric Bakambu, a striker for Real Betis in Spain.
The group’s underdogs, Uzbekistan, are managed by Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, who has tried to instil a defensive toughness into the White Wolves that was his trademark as a player. Given the other group opponents, Uzbekistan will need it.
Group L
The favourite: England
What we think: The headlines around the English squad have been focused more on who German-born Thomas Tuchel left at home rather than who made it in.
No room for Phil Foden, Cole Palmer or Trent Alexander-Arnold in the final 26-man squad, but Saudi-based strike Ivan Toney was picked having played only a handful of minutes in the national team under Tuchel 12 months ago.
Captaining the side is Harry Kane, the most in-form player in football, with 61 goals in 51 appearances in another trophy winner season for Bayern Munich. An injury to him could bring some of the Tuchel selections into sharper focus.
A win first-up against European rivals Croatia would set them up to top the group and move to a favourable side of the bracket for the knock-out stages. Croatia, runners-up in 2018 and third in 2022, are calling on the likes of Luka Modric, 40, Ivan Perisic, 37, Andrej Kramaric, 34, and Mateo Kovacic, 32 to do it again. Their Peter Pan approach (or Dad’s Army approach, if you prefer) should be enough to have them finish second in the group.
Their biggest threat is likely to be Ghana. The Black Stars, however, have been weakened by injury but can still on Manchester City’s Antoine Semenyo.
It should be too much quality for Panama, who while defensively strong, have an ageing squad and no member who features in Europe’s top five leagues.
Read our group-by-group guide to the 2026 World Cup: part one
