Catch the edge before the odds move.
Edges is South Africa's desk for the FIFA World Cup 2026. All 104 matches, one tournament, our own calls. Here's the quick tour.
group stage · 48 teams · groups A–L
World Cup 2026 group-stage preview.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage is the biggest in World Cup history: 48 teams, 12 groups of four, 72 matches between 2026-06-11 and 27 June. Top two from each group advance automatically. The eight best third-placed finishers also go through to the round of 32. Here is the picture in each group, drawn from the data in the market.
Outright prices are sample SA-market decimals at time of publication. Lower price = stronger favourite. Read the full format rules at /world-cup-2026/format/ or check group standings at /groups/.
All 12 groups at a glance.
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Group A -
Mexico -
South Africa -
South Korea -
Czechia
Seeded favourite: Mexico, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: South Korea, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group B -
Switzerland -
Canada -
Qatar -
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Seeded favourite: Switzerland, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Canada, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group C -
Brazil -
Morocco -
Scotland -
Haiti
Seeded favourite: Brazil, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Morocco, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group D -
United States -
Türkiye -
Paraguay -
Australia
Seeded favourite: United States, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Türkiye, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group E -
Germany -
Ecuador -
Côte d'Ivoire -
Curaçao
Seeded favourite: Germany, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Ecuador, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group F -
Netherlands -
Japan -
Sweden -
Tunisia
Seeded favourite: Netherlands, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Japan, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group G -
Belgium -
Iran -
Egypt -
New Zealand
Seeded favourite: Belgium, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Iran, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group H -
Spain -
Uruguay -
Saudi Arabia -
Cape Verde
Seeded favourite: Spain, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Uruguay, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group I -
France -
Senegal -
Norway -
Iraq
Seeded favourite: France, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Senegal, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group J -
Argentina -
Austria -
Algeria -
Jordan
Seeded favourite: Argentina, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Austria, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group K -
Portugal -
Colombia -
DR Congo -
Uzbekistan
Seeded favourite: Portugal, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Colombia, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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Group L -
England -
Croatia -
Panama -
Ghana
Seeded favourite: England, the lowest-priced outright winner in the group by the SA market. They are expected to advance comfortably in most model scenarios.
Dark horse: Croatia, second-shortest price in the group; could threaten the favourite's top-spot if form holds.
Qualification path: two automatic spots (top 2) plus a chance at a third-place berth. See live group standings once the tournament kicks off.
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The 48-team group-stage format.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 uses a 12-group format for the first time in World Cup history. Each group contains four teams playing a round-robin of three matches apiece, 48 teams × 3 matches ÷ 2 (each match counts for two teams) = 72 group-stage matches in total. Teams earn three points for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a defeat.
At the end of the group stage, 24 teams have advanced automatically, the two best-placed teams from each of the 12 groups. The remaining eight places in the round of 32 go to the best third-placed finishers across all 12 groups, ranked by points and then the standard FIFA tiebreakers. That means 32 of the original 48 sides reach the knockout phase, and 16 go home after three matches.
Full format explainer with every knockout stage: /world-cup-2026/format/. Group tables once the tournament starts: /groups/. Match schedule with sample price context: /matches/.
Group-stage FAQs.
- How many teams are in the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage?
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four (Groups A through L). Each team plays three group-stage matches, one against each of the other three teams in its group. The group stage runs from 2026-06-11 to 27 June 2026, covering 72 matches.
- How do teams qualify from the group stage to the round of 32?
- The top two teams from each of the 12 groups qualify automatically, that is 24 teams. The remaining eight spots in the round of 32 go to the best eight third-placed finishers across all 12 groups, ranked by points, then goal difference, then goals scored. In total, 32 of the 48 teams advance to the knockout rounds.
- Which group is the toughest at World Cup 2026?
- Groups H, I, J, and L contain the highest concentration of favourites: Spain (Group H), France (Group I), Argentina (Group J), and England (Group L). Any of these four groups could reasonably be called the hardest draw. Decimal prices appear once matches are priced and the verified partner feed is connected.
- What happens if teams are level on points after the group stage?
- FIFA tiebreakers run in this order when teams finish level on points: (1) goal difference in group matches; (2) goals scored in group matches; (3) points and goal difference in head-to-head matches between the tied teams; (4) goals scored head-to-head; (5) disciplinary record (yellow/red cards); (6) drawing of lots. Third-placed teams are ranked the same way across all 12 groups when determining the best eight.
- Will South Africa qualify from Group A?
- South Africa (Bafana Bafana) are drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and Czechia. Bafana are the tournament's host-nation co-qualifier alongside the USA, Canada, and Mexico, securing automatic entry regardless of FIFA ranking. The market reads them as rank outsiders; decimal prices appear once matches are priced. Qualification from the group is possible but will require results against South Korea and Czechia. Mexico is the clear favourite in the group. See /groups/ and /matches/ for the full fixture schedule.
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