Overview
- Germany faces a rugged Group E alongside Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ecuador, with the African and South American sides lauded for stingy qualifying defenses.
- Mexico opens the tournament against South Africa in a rematch of the 2010 curtain-raiser, this time backed by home-field advantage.
- The United States lands in Group D with Paraguay, Australia, and a European qualifier, with a June 19 date in Seattle where concerns about extreme climates are expected to be muted.
- Group K could hinge on Portugal versus Colombia in Miami on June 27, with a playoff winner slot still to be filled from DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia.
- Brazil is favored to lead Group C, though Morocco’s 2022 pedigree and Scotland’s resilient qualifying finish are flagged as meaningful tests.