FOXBORO — Most of the nations competing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Mexico, Canada and the United States next June, learned their group stage fate on Friday afternoon, as the world soccer governing body held the tournament’s final draw at the JFK Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

An expanded World Cup field — it’s now 48 countries, up from 32 — means better odds of advancing from the group stage and into the knockout rounds, and potentially bigger gaps in quality between favorites and the brunt of the pack. Yet many World Cup Draw traditions endured: there appears to be a Group of Death, tournament debutants will have to jump (high), and every host city will be privy to high quality matchups.

The United States men’s national team was drawn into Group D

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