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Associated Press

Argentina and Lionel Messi will play Algeria to open their World Cup title defence as part of a group that also includes Austria.
The United States were drawn on Friday to start against Paraguay at Inglewood, California, on June 12, a day after Mexico host the opener against South Africa.
The US reached the semi-finals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and have got as far as the quarter-finals only one other time, in 2002.
US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney selected the balls of their own countries from bowls during a ceremony at the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.

The pre-draw show was almost as long as a football match, with the actual draw for the expanded 48-nation tournament starting in the 87th minute.
Five-times winners Brazil will play Morocco – semi-finalists in 2022 – Haiti and Scotland. The Scots are appearing in the finals for the first time since 1998, when they lost to Brazil in the opening game.
France’s first game will be against Senegal in a repeat of one of the biggest tournament upsets, when the Africans stunned the then-holders in their first game of the 2002 tournament.
England will start against Croatia, who beat them in the 2018 semi-finals, and also face Panama, who they beat 6-1 in the group stage in the same tournament.
The teams outside the hosts’ groups will have to wait until Saturday to find out the venues and kick-off times for their games after Fifa attempts to optimise venues and kick-off times relating to the various worldwide television markets.
A newly introduced seeding system ensures that the current top four in the world – Spain, holders Argentina, 2022 runners-up France and England – cannot meet until the semi-final stage if they win their groups.

The 48 teams – including six still-to-be-decided play-off winners – were divided into 12 groups of four to produce a mammoth 104-match schedule across 16 cities in the US, Canada and Mexico, culminating in the final in New Jersey on July 19.
On a wintry day with snow falling, football officials and celebrities filled the hall, 189 days before the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament.
There were long queues outside the complex even at 7am as workers and media filed through with Secret Service agents securing the area.
Earlier in the ceremony, Fifa awarded its first peace prize to Trump, who has campaigned to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
Fifa president Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-coloured trophy and a gold-coloured medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise.
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” Trump said.

A red carpet was laid outside the arts centre, taken over this year by Trump and his supporters.
Retired stars Tom Brady of the NFL, Shaquille O’Neal of the NBA and Wayne Gretzky of the NHL along with ex-baseball player Aaron Judge were to assist in a ceremony run by former England football captain Rio Ferdinand.
All 11 of the highest-ranked teams were in the draw, with No 12 Italy among 22 nations competing in play-offs for the final six berths to be decided on March 31.
All games from the quarter-finals on will be in the US, which is using 11 NFL stadiums. Sites for most games and kick-off times are to be announced on Saturday.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Fifa

Shaquille O’Neal acts as a draw assistant during the Fifa World Cup 2026 draw in Washington on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Draw assistant Tom Brady holds the ticket of England as the groups take shape in Washington. Photo: EPA

Fifa’s Gianni Infantino takes a selfie with Donald Trump, Claudia Sheinbaum and Mark Carney. Photo: AP

Argentina’s name is drawn during the ceremony in Washington. Photo: AFP

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President Donald Trump (left) and Fifa president Gianni Infantino hold a ticket to the 2026 World Cup  in the Oval Office. Photo: EPA

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US President Donald Trump is awarded the Fifa Peace Prize in Washington on Friday. Photo: AP

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Fifa President Gianni Infantino as he is presented with the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize at the Kennedy Centre on Friday. Photo: AP

Sport

Football

Argentina drawn to start against Algeria after a show that lasts almost as long as a football match


Argentina drawn to start against Algeria after a show that lasts almost as long as a football match.
