2026 World Cup Draw Results: Ranking All 12 Groups From Easiest To Toughest

The field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set following the group-stage draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington on Friday. Some teams had luck on their side, while others have more reason to be nervous than they did before the draw.

Here is a ranking of the 2026 World Cup groups from easiest to toughest based on average FIFA World Rankings. 

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Countries: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Intercontinental Playoff 1
Average FIFA ranking: 40.2
Highest-ranked team: Portugal (6)

The match between Portugal (6) and Colombia (13) is going to be appointment viewing, and the winner of that match will likely decide the winner of the group. Why? The next-closest team is ranked 50th, and that won't change if the Congo, New Caledonia or Jamaica qualify.

Countries: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Average FIFA ranking: 39
Highest-ranked team: Germany (9)

Germany was the big winner on Friday, drawing into a group with the lowest average FIFA ranking. Curaçaois the lowest-ranked team in Group E at 82. It made history in November as the smallest nation by population to qualify for a World Cup with a total of 156,115 people as of January.

Countries: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Average FIFA ranking: 37
Highest-ranked team: Belgium (8)

Belgium's best days might be behind it with its Golden Generation reaching the twilight years, but the team should have no problem advancing to the Round of 32, with Iran being the only other country in the group with a FIFA ranking higher than 20.

Countries: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Average FIFA ranking: 36.3
Highest-ranked team: Spain (1)

Spain got a tough draw with Uruguay, which is