Which is the ‘group of death’ in the FIFA World Cup 2026?

article

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - NOVEMBER 20: A general view of the FIFA World Cup trophy on display prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and European Play-Off Draw at Home of FIFA on November 20, 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Marcio Ma

Expand

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The FIFA World Cup 2026 draw delivered a number of intriguing matchups, but fans quickly zeroed in on one question: which group is the true group of death?

With 48 teams split into 12 groups, there are more balanced pools this year. Two groups, in particular, stand above the rest.

Why Group I is a strong contender

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, FIFA Playoff 2 Winner

This group immediately draws attention because it combines:

• France, one of the deepest and most experienced national teams in the world. France won the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and were finalists in Qatar 2022.
• Senegal, the reigning African powerhouse with elite talent across the pitch.
• Norway, led by global superstar Erling Haaland and Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard — a team capable of beating anyone on the right day.
• A playoff winner, which could add another physically strong, defensively durable and competitively HUNGRY team to the mix.

From top to bottom, it is a group where every matchup feels losable, even for France. Senegal and Norway are both capable of advancing — or crashing out early — which is the hallmark of a true group of death.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is seen during the Commercial Partners Summit at Marriott Georgetown Hotel on December 03, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Hector Vivas - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Why Group L is just as dangerous

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

On paper, Group L may be even more balanced than Group I, mixing heavyweight pedigree with unpredictable challengers:

• England, a perennial favorite with one of the deepest squads at the tournament.
• Croatia, a consistent knockout-round threat with recent deep World Cup runs.
• Ghana, a physical, fast and tactically sharp team known for upsetting European opponents.
• Panama, technically the underdog, but well-organized enough to take points and disrupt the group.

Unlike some groups where two teams are clear favorites, Group L has three nations capable of winning the group, and Panama capable of spoiling it for someone.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy at the official award ceremony after the final match between France and Croatia at FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 at Luzhniki Stadium; France won 4-2. Denis Tyrin/TASS (Photo by Denis TyrinTASS via Getty Images)

What exactly is a FIFA World Cup group of death?

A "group of death" typically includes:

• Multiple top-10–caliber teams
• At least one elite underdog with knockout-round potential
• No obvious weak link
• A realistic scenario in which a global powerhouse could be eliminated in the group stage

Both Group I and Group L match that definition closely.

So which group earns the title?

Based on competitive balance, global rankings, star power and upset potential:

The 2026 World Cup appears to have two groups of death: Group I and Group L.

Group I is stacked with elite players and tactically complex teams, while Group L is arguably the most balanced top-to-bottom group in the entire tournament.

In a 48-team World Cup with more groups, true group-of-death scenarios are harder to create, but these two stand out as the most dangerous, unforgiving draws for top-tier nations.