Winners and losers from the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw

Winner: USA

There's no getting around it: the U.S. Men's National Team got a fabulous draw for this World Cup. It will open its tournament against Paraguay in Los Angeles, take on Australia in Seattle, then face the winner of the Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo European playoff in its final game of the group stage.

The USMNT beat Paraguay, 2-1, in Chester, Pa. in November and beat Australia, 2-1, in Denver, Colo., a few weeks earlier. Neither game was particularly close, and both were excellent showcases for the Americans.

But the USMNT's strong World Cup draw goes beyond its group and extends into the knockout rounds. It's likely to face teams from Group G — Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand — in the Round of 32 and the Round of 16. All four are easier-than-expected opponents.

Loser: Scotland

It's wonderful to have Scotland back on the World Cup stage, but it's less wonderful to see it dropped into an absolute gauntlet of a group. The Scots are set to take on Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in the opening games of the tournament.

Brazil is underperforming in South America but still fearsome on the international circuit. Morocco is arguably Africa's strongest team and made it all the way to the World Cup semifinals in 2022. And Haiti? Doubt it at your peril — it's an organized, well-coached unit that took the North American division to task this year. Scotland would do well to not finish dead last.

Winner: Korea Republic

Son Heung-Min fans, rejoice: Korea lucked into a fabulous draw that should see it advance to the knockout stages without too much trouble. It will face Mexico, South Africa and the winner of the Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland European playoff.

Korea's toughest opponent here is Mexico, especially considering Mexico's home field advantage, but it won't sweat it. The two teams faced off in a friendly last September and held each other to an entertaining 2-2 draw. Korea learned plenty from that encounter and has only improved since then.

Loser: England

England is a great team, but it will have to be a truly excellent one to survive its group. It's set to face Croatia — the team that eliminated it from the 2018 World Cup — in its opening match before jumping into tense, tougher-than-expected battles with Ghana and Panama. Ghana has the speed and organization to beat any team on its day; Panama, coached to perfection by Thomas Christiansen, is expected to be one of the tournament's dark horses.

The 2026 World Cup will kick off on Thursday, June 11 with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.