The Toughest Groups at the 2026 World Cup—Ranked

France, England and Argentina have been dealt tough hands at this summer’s World Cup.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup groups are set. | Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images

December’s 2026 FIFA World Cup draw set out the 12 groups for this summer’s expanded tournament, but only after March’s playoffs were all 48 teams confirmed.

FIFA’s insatiable desire for expansion means the upcoming tournament will be the grandest in the competition’s almost 100-year history. Initially, it had been planned for the teams to be drawn into 16 groups of three, but the drama that played out on the final group stage matchday at the 2022 tournament convinced FIFA to change tack and retain four-team groups.

That uncharacteristically wise decision opened the door for a ‘Group of Death’ to manifest in North America, an unavoidable phrase in draw discourse, and there are certainly a few contenders for the 2026 mantle.

To determine the ‘toughest’ draw at next summer’s World Cup, Sports Illustrated have calculated the average FIFA world ranking of each group after March’s action. So, let’s see what FIFA believes is the 2026 World Cup ‘Group of Death’.

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Toughest Group at the 2026 World Cup

France will face off against Senegal at the World Cup for the first time since their iconic 2002 tussle. | Andreas Rentz/Bongarts/Getty Images

Both on the surface and on paper, Group I is the deadliest. France, Senegal and Norway all locking horns? Woof. Oh, and don’t forget inter-continental playoff winner Iraq, who is aiming to spring a surprise this summer.

An average world ranking of 25.75 makes Group I slightly tougher than Group D, where co-hosts United States feature alongside three awkward opponents. Türkiye’s addition after its playoff victory has added an extra challenge for the USMNT, who will also be forced into battles with Paraguay and Australia.

Fleshing out the top three is Group F. The Netherlands is the headline act, but Japan, Sweden and Tunisia will all fancy their chances of progressing to the knockout phase—and perhaps even topping the group if the Dutch endure a wobble.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal’s Group K is the fourth toughest group with an average ranking of 28.5—Colombia the main competitors for the 2016 European champions—and Lionel Messi’s Argentina have also been dealt a difficult set of fixtures in Group J against alliterative adversaries Algeria and Austria.

Jesse Marsch will be satisfied with Canada’s group. | Alex Nicodim/NurPhoto/Getty Images

At the other end of the scale, Canada and its Group B competitors are smirking. The addition of playoff winners Bosnia and Herzegovina—who conquered Italy in the final of their path—has done little to intensify the challenge in a group already containing Qatar and Switzerland. The average ranking of 42.25 is much higher than any other group.

Germany and Spain have both been handed favorable draws in Group E and Group H respectively, the European giants expected to waltz to first place in groups with an average ranking of just 37.25.

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Every 2026 World Cup Group Ranked by Difficulty

Rank	Group	Teams	Average FIFA World Ranking
1.	I	France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq	25.75
2.	D	United States, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye	26.25
3.	F	Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia	26.75
4.	K	Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia	28.5
5.	J	Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan	29.5
6.	L	England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama	30.5
7.	C	Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti	35
8.	A	Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia	35.25
9.	G	Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand	36
=11.	H	Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde	37.25
=11.	E	Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao	37.25
12.	B	Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland	42.25

*Last updated on April 3, 2026

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