World Cup draw reaction
(Corrects spelling of Jordan's Jamal Sellami in paragraph 49)
Dec 5 : Reaction to the 2026 World Cup draw that was conducted in Washington on Friday.
GROUP A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, European Playoff D
JAVIER AGUIRRE, MEXICO HEAD COACH
"There are no small opponents, we mustn't get complacent, we have to work hard. We'll have to wait to find out who our European opponent will be. We'll be repeating our opening match (against South Africa) from 15 years ago and we'll have to be ready."
GROUP B: Canada, European Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
JESSE MARSCH, CANADA HEAD COACH
"I believe it's a group we can win and I would have said that no matter who was in the group because I believe in our team, I believe in the strength of our team, I believe in the confidence in our team and playing at home will be a big advantage.
"We're not going to (be) overconfident, we're going to be very realistic, we're going to stay focused, we're going to go about it in machine-like performances day in and day out like we have the whole time we have been together."
GROUP C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
CARLO ANCELOTTI, BRAZIL HEAD COACH
"We have strong rivals in the group and we have to work hard for the first game against Morocco. A draw is a draw. It could have been an easier draw, but it was a little more difficult. We have a clear goal of finishing first in the group.”
STEVE CLARKE, SCOTLAND HEAD COACH
“One of the big things in my head was no European teams so we're playing three top sides from three different continents and that’s what the World Cup is all about. So I think it's a really good draw."
WALID REGRAGUI, MOROCCO HEAD COACH
“Playing against Brazil is a dream for everyone. It is an honour for us; Brazil is the country of football, and for Moroccans, it is an example. We have great respect for the Selecao, but let's be honest, it will be a great game. May the best team win."
GROUP D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, European Playoff C
MAURICIO POCHETTINO, U.S. HEAD COACH
"My message to the players is Paraguay, Australia and the other team (playoff winner) is going to be difficult. We need to prepare like each game is the final of the World Cup. Thinking we should win before we play the games is the wrong mindset."
ALEXI LALAS, AMERICAN SOCCER GREAT
"If you believe in the soccer gods, you should be thanking them. This is not just a good group, this is a great group, and this is a group that you should expect this United States team, under Mauricio Pochettino, to win and go through. I don't want to say it's an easy group, but we also have to be realistic with what we got here."
TONY POPOVIC, AUSTRALIA HEAD COACH
"Finally finding out exactly who we will be playing at the FIFA World Cup 2026 makes it all feel a lot more real. Now the real planning can begin. There is still a bit of unknown in drawing a team from UEFA Play-Off C, and we play them first - but we're excited. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is always hard and we have a tough group, but we're looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead."
GROUP E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
DICK ADVOCAAT, CURACAO HEAD COACH
“It is a fantastic draw for Curacao. To play the opening match against a major football nation like Germany is of course wonderful. It is already so special to be on this stage with Curacao, and now we face three countries from different continents. All three teams are difficult opponents. We will see what it will bring us with Curacao. We will take it as it comes, but this draw is very good.”
GROUP G: Belgium, Iran, New Zealand, Egypt
HOSSAM HASSAN, EGYPT HEAD COACH
"Egypt has legitimate ambitions and a real chance to go as far as possible. We will focus on our work, and we have time after the Africa Cup of Nations, which will be a strong opportunity and preparation for the World Cup... along with the international break matches. Anyone who wants to go far and bring joy to the fans must work hard and stay committed."
DARREN BAZELEY, NEW ZEALAND HEAD COACH
"It's a good group. We had to wait for it, the last name out of the hat. Kept us waiting and waiting. It's a good group, tough teams but we knew they were all going to be tough games. We've got a top-10 team in the world in Belgium and then a really good team out of Asia and then Egypt, who we know a little bit more about because we played them a couple of years ago. When you look across, there could've been some tougher groups, but we still know it's a big challenge."
GROUP F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European Playoff B
HAJIME MORIYASU, JAPAN HEAD COACH
"I felt we were drawn in an extremely tough group. The Netherlands are one of the world's top nations - they haven't won one yet, but been to the final. Tunisia had nine wins and a draw in the qualifiers without conceding, very solid and astute. I want our players to make their presence felt in daily activities at their clubs to win the fierce battle for the World Cup squad. We have a shared goal of winning the World Cup - I know it won't be easy, but I want us to prepare with confidence. We can definitely do it."
GROUP H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
LUIS DE LA FUENTE, SPAIN HEAD COACH
“The fact that we are seen as favourites is a recognition of the level of Spanish football. Let's appreciate that. But that doesn't guarantee anything, and the praise won't weaken us. Quite the contrary. We have a great responsibility, we want to do something important in this World Cup. And that means doing well in the group stage and continuing to move forward, because the matches will become increasingly difficult."
GROUP I: France, Senegal, FIFA Playoff 2, Norway
ADRIEN RABIOT, FRANCE MIDFIELDER
"A fairly strong group, but as we know it’s a World Cup — the teams that are there deserve to be there, and we’ll have to fight to reach the next stage. We’ll need to be in good shape after a very long season, because the teams that will perform best will be those who are physically strongest."
STALE SOLBAKKEN, NORWAY HEAD COACH
"We got a tough draw. France and Spain are the two best European teams, and Senegal, they have a good generation now. Of course, we can beat Senegal, and we can beat Bolivia, and we can on our maximum, maximum day take points from France. That's the attitude we need to have when we go into this here."
PAPE THIAW, SENEGAL HEAD COACH
"It’s always a pleasure to play against France. It’s a country we know well — for me, it’s my second home. Twenty-four years later, we face them again. In 2002, it went well for us. This will not be an easy match. We will be well prepared.”
GROUP J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
LIONEL SCALONI, ARGENTINA HEAD COACH
"We're going to give it our all and try to do what we did in the last World Cup, which is to give everything we can, not give up on any ball. That's what this team has been doing."
VLADIMIR PETKOVIC, ALGERIA HEAD COACH
"In the first match against Argentina, we will not play as a defeated team. We are thrilled to face Argentina in the opening game, as that could serve as preparation for the next two matches, which will be very important. It’s a very exciting group."
JAMAL SELLAMI, JORDAN HEAD COACH
"The group is strong, but we have our chances. Facing (Lionel) Messi is exceptional, but the World Cup does not recognise chances, Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in the 2022 World Cup. Motivation is important for the players, and playing against Argentina, Austria, and Algeria is a valuable experience. At global tournaments, there are no major gaps, and we hope to represent Jordanian football in the best possible way."
GROUP L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
THOMAS TUCHEL, ENGLAND HEAD COACH
“It's a difficult group and a difficult opening match against Croatia, they were the top seeds in pot two and Ghana from pot four is a regular in the World Cups and they have some of the best players like (Antoine) Semenyo and (Mohammed) Kudus playing in the Premier League with a lot of quality."
