By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
South Africa were drawn in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico and Korea Republic for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Washington on Friday.
The final team in Bafana Bafana’s group will be determined in the UEFA playoffs between Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic and Ireland.
It will be a replay of the 2010 World Cup opener, when Mexico will face Bafana Bafana on 11 June.
The other eight African teams at the 2026 World Cup are Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Cape Verde.
Scotland’s first match at the men’s World Cup for 28 years will be against Haiti on 13 June, in Boston or New York, followed by matches against Morocco and Brazil in Group C.
Wales or Northern Ireland would join Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B, should either come through two rounds of Uefa play-off matches in March.
The first-ever 48-team World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States between 11 June and 19 July 2026.
World Cup 2026 draw in full
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner of Uefa play-off D*
- Group B: Canada, Winner of Uefa play-off A*, Qatar, Switzerland
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of Uefa play-off C*
- Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner of Uefa play-off B*, Tunisia
- Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
- Group I: France, Senegal, Winner of Fifa play-off 2*, Norway
- Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, Winner of Fifa play-off 1*, Uzbekistan, Colombia
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.