How many groups are there for the 2026 World Cup?

For the first time in the tournaments history the number of teams involved has expanded to 48 countries meaning there are 12 initial groups.

How are the third placed qualifiers decided?

Eight third placed teams will still qualify for the knock out stage. To decide which of the third placed teams go through they are ranked against each other and ordered based on: Total points, Goal difference, Goals scored, Fair play points, Fifa World ranking (in that order).

Is it ever best to finish second?

It depends how you define best and also how other groups have finished, but it is true that sometimes if a weaker team has had a run of luck to top a group by finishing second a team can play them in the next stage rather than a harder rival which would happen if they won the group.

Can you lose the first game and still win the World Cup?

Winning the first match is not essential but statistically it happens more often than not. 16 out of the 22 World Cup winners won their first match, the other six either drew or lost.

World Cup: The Group Stages

Last update at 30 March, 2026⏲️ Reading time: 10 minutes

The 12 groups of the 2026 World Cup

The increased number of entrants means that 32 will now progress to the knock out stages. As before this will be the top two and also the 6 best third placed finishers. The group make ups and our predictions are below, but remember these early games have a lot of unpredictability and any outright bets can be placed later in the tournament if you wish. It is impossible to win the World Cup in the Group stages no matter how well you play, but it is possible for you to lose it if you play badly.

All odds were correct at the time of writing and are from our partner site Megapari (read the full review of Megapari bookmaker). Join now for a great World Cup Welcome Bonus to get you started on the right track:

The final teams to qualify through the playoffs

There were 6 final places to decide in March which FIFA curiously named Paths 1 & 2 for the International teams and Paths A to D for the European ones. The teams that got in at the last minute were:

Path 1	DR Congo
Path 2	Iraq
Path A	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Path B	Sweden
Path C	Turkey
Path D	Czech Rep

Irans (and to a lesser extent Iraqs) participation is uncertain but officially as of April 2026 the final entrants are:

Group A Line up and predictions

Group A

🏆 Group winner : Mexico

As one of the home nations expect Mexico to outperform past World Cup attempts. They will have a local advantage and no particular “danger” teams in their group to contend with, so are the most likely to come out on top.

👉 Odds on Mexico to win the group: 1.88

✅ Qualification from the group : South Korea

It is hard to be too confident in this prediction at the moment with the 4th team still unknown but South Korea are World Cup veterans who have gotten out of the group more often than not..

👉 Odds on South Korea qualifying: 1.42

Group B Line up and predictions

Group B

🏆 Group winner : Switzerland

In a group lacking any real quality, Switzerland are competent in all areas of their team and are likely to do enough to finish first.

👉 Odds on Switzerland to win the group: 1.81

✅ Qualification from the group : Bosnia

Bosnia did enough to knock Italy out of the competition so they clearly know how to play. They are going to be too much for Qatar and Canada therefore picking up second spot.

👉 Odds on Bosnia qualifying: 1.65

Group C Line up and predictions

Group C

🏆 Group winner : Brazil

This one is a banker, the odds will be very low of course but depending on how low this may be a good use of your money, especially if placing the bet near to the tournament kicking off so money is not tied up for too long.

👉 Odds on Brazil to win the group: 1.16

✅ Qualification from the group : Scotland

Not the bookmakers favourite, who put Morocco as the second team here but we feel Scotland have a decent chance, perhaps picking up draws against both Brazil and Morocco then after beating Haiti other results go their way and that is enough to go second.

👉 Odds on Scotland qualifying: 1.35

Group D Line up and predictions

Group D

🏆 Group winner : Turkey

Again they are not officially through yet but it is odds on they will make up the fourth team and once they have cemented that place they are the best team in the group by some distance.

👉 Odds on Turkey to win the group: 2.76

✅ Qualification from the group : USA

It would be a close run thing between Australia and the USA but the home advantage should kick in and be enough to push the Americans deeper into the tournament.

👉 Odds on the USA qualifying: 2.39

Group E Line up and Predictions

Group E

🏆 Group winner : Germany

The odds are low but regardless there is no other bet here, it is either Germany or if you do not want to tie up your money for so long backing them each game to win incrementally is another idea.

👉 Odds on Germany to win the group: 1.28

✅ Qualification from the group : Ecuador

A good value bet because if anyone is to get a result against Germany it is Ecuador, and then other results may go their way too. Regardless, even if they lose to Germany, they should be too strong for the others in the group.

👉 Odds on Ecuador qualifying: 1.15

Group F Line up and predictions

Group F

🏆 Group winner : Netherlands

The Netherlands are favourites in what is a solid group with no clear “easy” game, so they have three competitors for the group title which is unusual because it is usually just one or two. Regardless they should have enough players with the quality to change a game to come through on top.

👉 Odds on the Netherlands to win the group: 1.69

✅ Qualification from the group : Japan

It is hard to say with any clarity because the full line up is not known yet but this is one of the tightest groups there is regardless of whether it is Poland or Sweden joining. Still Japan is who we fancy to go through.

👉 Odds on Japan qualifying: 1.25

Group H Line up and predictions

Group H

🏆 Group winner : Spain

Spain are actually favorites to win the World Cup outright so it is logical that they are the favorites to win the group. Neither Saudi Arabia or Uruguay will be easy matches but the Spanish should prevail.

👉 Odds on Spain to win the group: 1.21

✅ Qualification from the group : Saudi Arabia

In the race for second place to guarantee qualification, it will be close between Saudi Arabia and Uruguay but Saudi Arabia are an unknown quality and as the odds are better on them taking the spot we favour them in what we view as a 50/50. Every Saudi player plays in the Saudi domestic league so they are an unknown quantity but one that we think might surprise people.

👉 Odds on Saudi Arabia qualifying: 1.9

Group I Line up and predictions

Group I

🏆 Group winner : Norway

On paper France has a stronger squad with greater depth but this is the World Cup and games can be won and lost by “moment”. Erling Haaland (when he is on form best produces those moments. We think there is more value backing Norway here than France.

👉 Odds on Norway to win the group: 3.75

✅ Qualification from the group : France

It will be France and Norway 1-2 and the only thing to decide is what way round it is. Should France not go up as overall group winners they should still make the knock out stages.

👉 Odds on France qualifying: 1.04

Group J Line up and predictions

Group J

🏆 Group winner : Argentina

The winner of this group should be Argentina quite comfortably. The incentive they have to win is that they will not meet another group winner until the quarter finals which means on paper the run in will be a little easier. Of course it does not always work like that but regardless Argentina should be able to top the group comfortably and that is what they will try to do.

👉 Odds on Argentina to win the group: 1.33

✅ Qualification from the group : Austria

There is not a lot to choose between Austria and Algeria here but we think Austria will just shade it, an opinion backed up by their World rankings.

👉 Odds on Austria qualifying: 1.16

Group K Line up and predictions

Group K

🏆 Group Winner: Colombia

Portugal are the favourites here but we do not see that as a value bet, Colombia will not have “home” advantage but they have a lot less distance to cover for both their players and their fans which could help with their stamina and also the number of supporters attending. They should win two of the three games comfortably and it will come down to the Portuguese head to head and we think they might cause an upset.

👉 Odds on Colombia to win the group: 3.5

✅ Qualification from the Group: Portugal

Portugal should almost certainly get out of the group and into the knock out stages either in first or second place, for this not to happen would be one of the first shocks of this World Cup.

👉 Odds on Portugal qualifying: 1.03

Group L Line up and predictions

Group L

🏆 Group winner : Croatia

Croatia are a good team with a great reputation against England in international tournaments. England World Cup campaigns are often slow burners and it would not surprise us to see Croatia top the group in 2026.

👉 Odds on Croatia to win the group: 4.55

✅ Qualification from the group : England

England should still have enough in them to get out of the group, as the tournaments outright second favourites they have a great depth to their squad and are not reliant on any one star player anymore, although they have several who can fill the role if required.

👉 Odds on England qualifying: 1.01

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FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions

How many groups are there for the 2026 World Cup?
For the first time in the tournaments history the number of teams involved has expanded to 48 countries meaning there are 12 initial groups.
How are the third placed qualifiers decided?
Eight third placed teams will still qualify for the knock out stage. To decide which of the third placed teams go through they are ranked against each other and ordered based on: Total points, Goal difference, Goals scored, Fair play points, Fifa World ranking (in that order).
Is it ever best to finish second?
It depends how you define best and also how other groups have finished, but it is true that sometimes if a weaker team has had a run of luck to top a group by finishing second a team can play them in the next stage rather than a harder rival which would happen if they won the group.
Can you lose the first game and still win the World Cup?
Winning the first match is not essential but statistically it happens more often than not. 16 out of the 22 World Cup winners won their first match, the other six either drew or lost.