World Cup 2026 tactical group guides: Stylistic setups, key players and things to watch out for

The 2026 World Cup is less than a week away, and it’s gigantic. Three countries, 12 groups, 48 teams, 1,248 players.

But enlargement brings complexity. There is so much to learn ahead of the big kick-off next Thursday and a rapidly decreasing window in which to do so.

Welcome, then, to The Athletic’s 2026 World Cup Tactical Group Guides, which will walk you through the key battles on the pitch, tell you about the players to look out for, and offer up some fun facts to impress your friends with ahead of the tournament.

GROUP A: Mexico’s home advantage, Czech set pieces, and concerns for South Korea

GROUP B: Canada’s energy, Swiss fluidity, and can Bosnia or Qatar make history?

GROUP C: Brazil’s attacking riches, Scotland’s set pieces, and can Morocco go deep again?

GROUP D: Crunch time for USMNT, Turkey’s attacking rotations, and are Paraguay dark horses?

GROUP E: Ecuador’s ultra-defence, can Germany improve, and will Curacao surprise everyone?

GROUP F: Sweden’s strikers, Japan’s transitions, and are the Netherlands too cautious?

GROUP G: De Bruyne, Salah, Taremi and Wood face off in battle of the veterans

GROUP H: Spanish control, Uruguay’s relentlessness, and two dark horses?

GROUP I: How will France, Senegal, Norway and Iraq contest the group of death?

GROUP J: Austria’s intensity, Algeria’s transitions, and is Messi still Argentina’s key man?

GROUP K: Pacy Colombia, fluid DR Congo and can Ronaldo lead Portugal to glory?

GROUP L: Croatia’s veterans, Ghana’s gamble, and can Tuchel make England unpredictable?

The World Cup kicks off in Mexico City on June 11 (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)