2026 World Cup Draw: South American Teams Learn Their Fate | OneFootball

The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place today, giving the seven CONMEBOL representatives a clear picture of what awaits them next year. Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, and Paraguay all discovered their group-stage opponents as the road to football’s biggest stage becomes increasingly defined.

Bolivia, who finished in seventh place in qualifying, will head to an intercontinental play-off in March as it fights for a spot at the tournament. The draw also revealed the path awaiting La Verde should they triumph and reach the global showpiece.

Argentina

Defending champions Argentina secured their place at the World Cup, finishing in first place, winning 12 of their 18 matches, and ended on 38 points, nine clear of anyone else.

Back in 2022, Argentina lifted the World Cup for the third time after an unforgettable showdown with France, edging them out on penalties in what many still regard as one of the greatest finals ever played.

La Albiceleste were drawn in Group J with Austria, Algeria, and Jordan.

Argentina have played Austria three times, winning once, drawing once, and losing once. They last played them in 1990.

They have met Algeria once, winning 4-3 back in 2007 in a thriller.

Argentina have never played Jordan.

Ecuador

Ecuador finished CONMEBOL qualifying in second place. They last featured at the World Cup in 2022, where they were unlucky not to get out of the group stages despite putting in some strong performances against Qatar and the Netherlands.

Ecuador have been drawn in Group E with Germany, Curaçao, and the Ivory Coast.

Ecuador met Germany in 2006 in the World Cup, with Germany winning 3-0. The only other meeting came in 2013 in a friendly that finished 4-2 to the Germans.

Ecuador will face both the Ivory Coast and Curaçao for the first time.

Colombia

After missing out on the 2022 World Cup, it was essential that Colombia didn’t make that a habit, and they have done just that by earning a third-place finish during the qualifiers.

Their last World Cup campaign saw them reach the Round of 16, where they took England to a penalty shootout before narrowly losing 4-3.

Colombia are placed in Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan, and either Jamaica, DR Congo, or New Caledonia.

Out of all the teams in Colombia’s group, they have met only Jamaica (who are yet to qualify). In the matches against Jamaica, their record stands at four wins and one defeat.

Uruguay

After a poor display at the 2022 World Cup, Uruguay were desperate to get back onto the global stage and showcase their real talent. Under Manager Marcelo Bielsa, La Celeste finished in fourth place, with seven wins, seven draws, and four defeats.

Uruguay have been placed into Group H with Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Cape Verde.

Uruguay have met Spain ten times, with five draws and five defeats. They have met twice in the World Cup, both finished in draws; they last met in the 2013 Confederations Cup, with Spain enjoying a 2-1 victory.

They met Saudi Arabia in Russia 201,8, where a Luis Suarez goal gave them a 1-0 victory. They have met three times overall with one win, one draw, and one loss.

They have never played Cape Verde.

Brazil

Fernando Diniz, Dorival Júnior, and Carlo Ancelotti had spells in charge of Brazil during the recent CONMEBOL qualifiers, where they finished fifth, in a campaign they’d like to forget.

In the 2022 World Cup, Brazil made it to the Quarter-finals of the tournament, which saw all of their 23-man squad feature in the tournament. Seleção suffered a shock exit at the hands of Croatia during spot-kicks.

Brazil were the first team out (other than the three hosts). They have been placed in Group C with Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti.

They have played Morocco on three occasions, winning two and losing their most recent outing 2-0 in 2023.

They have faced Scotland ten times, winning eight and drawing two. They last played the Scots in 2013, where they won 2-0.

Brazil have played Haiti four times, winning three and losing once. They last met in the 2016 Copa America, where Brazil ran riot in a 7-1 battering.

Paraguay

In 2010, Paraguay won the hearts of the nation as they reached the Quarter-final of the World Cup, only to be narrowly defeated by eventual champions Spain after extra time. Since then, they hadn’t qualified for the tournament, but on the 4th of September, a 0-0 draw with Ecuador ended their long wait to return.

Paraguay have been drawn with the USA, Australia, and either Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, or Romania in Group D.

Paraguay have met the United States on nine occasions, losing five, drawing and losing two. They played most recently in November of this year, where the Americans enjoyed a 2-1 win.

They have played Australia five times, where the Aussies have won two and drawn three. They last played back in 2010.

Bolivia

Bolivia have not featured in a World Cup Finals since USA 1994. They have reached the finals on three occasions but have yet to win a match, with five losses and a draw.

They still have work to do if they are to qualify, with Suriname standing in their way. A victory in the Intercontinental Playoff Semi-final would see them take on Iraq for a place at the 2026 World Cup.

If Bolivia progresses, they will be in Group I with Senegal, Norway, and France.