World Cup 2026: Group C in Focus
Brazil will face Haiti, Morocco and Scotland in Group C of the FIFA World Cup 2026, according to the official draw. The five-time world champions enter the tournament having won the final in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.
Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil, ranked 5th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, will be competing at the World Cup for a record-extending 23rd time. They secured their spot by finishing fifth among ten CONMEBOL nations in the round-robin qualifiers on 10 June. Brazil opened their Group C campaign with a 1-1 draw against Morocco.
Morocco, ranked 13th, return for their seventh World Cup appearance and an unprecedented third successive qualification. The Atlas Lions topped Group E of the CAF qualifiers and were the first African side to secure their place. Coach Ouahbi has said the team aims to build on their historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.
Scotland, ranked 45th, qualified for the first time in 28 years, their ninth World Cup appearance overall. John McGinn scored the winner as Scotland defeated Haiti 1-0 in their Group C opener in Boston, securing their first global finals win since 1990.
Haiti, ranked 89th, return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1974. The tournament debutants in the modern era showed defensive resilience against Scotland but could not find an equaliser.
The winners of Group C will face the runner-up from Group F in Houston, while the runners-up will meet the Group F winners in Mexico City.
Yamal: Spain play the best football
Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old Barcelona winger, has told FIFA.com that Spain "play the best football" heading into the World Cup. Speaking in an exclusive interview, Yamal discussed the pressure of being tournament favourites following Spain's EURO and Nations League victories.
"Being the favourites doesn't mean anything once you're on the pitch," Yamal said. "Spanish academies are the world's best and produce top talent." Spain are drawn in Group H with fixtures in Atlanta, Miami, Guadalajara and Houston, and open their campaign against Cabo Verde.
Hassan returns as Arnold names preliminary Iraq squad
Graham Arnold has named a 34-player preliminary Iraq squad for their return to the FIFA World Cup after a 40-year absence. The squad includes returning captain Jalal Hassan, Amir Al Ammari, Ali Jasim, and Aymen Hussein. New call-ups include Dario Naamo, Jussef Nasrawe, and Ahmed Qasem. Iraq are set to face their group-stage opponents in the coming weeks as they finalise their tournament preparations.
World Cup Wonderkids: Kenan Yildiz
Türkiye forward Kenan Yildiz, 21, of Juventus has been profiled by FIFA.com as one of the tournament's emerging talents. Coach Vincenzo Montella said: "Kenan has exceptional skills. He can change a game all on his own." Yildiz will be looking to make an impact as Türkiye compete in their group-stage fixtures across North America.
Source: FIFA.com — Official FIFA World Cup 2026 content.
