How do the teams play? Who is their star player? What can we expect from them when the tournament starts?

On Friday, soccer fans across the world will get an answer to the question they have asked for months: Who are we playing in the men’s World Cup?To help prepare you for the World Cup draw, The Athletic made this simulator. It allows you to play out an unlimited number of draws and see all possible groups for the team you support.Your team:United StatesAt your command, it will let you create as many draws as you want. And it will tell you whether the group drawn is particularly weak or strong.We’ll start you off with a random draw:Group AMexicoMexicoTunisiaTunisiaColombia...

The 2026 World Cup draw is expected to begin at noon Eastern time on Friday, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. We will update the results live on this page throughout the draw.Draw starts in 16h, 18 min., 55 sec.Group AMexicoMexicoGroup BCanadaCanadaGroup CGroup DUnited StatesUnited StatesGroup EGroup FGroup GGroup HGroup IGroup JGroup KGroup LPot 1ArgentinaBelgiumBrazilCanadaEnglandFranceGermanyMexicoNetherlandsPortugalSpainUnited StatesPot 2AustraliaAustriaColombiaCroatiaEcuadorIranJapanMoroccoSenegalSouth KoreaSwitzerlandUruguayPot 3...

Impress your friends with some weird and wonderful knowledge about the countries involved in Friday's World Cup draw

Not sure about what to expect from a soccer World Cup in North America? Here's everything we think you need to know

There’s a smorgasbord of tasty World Cup qualifying fixtures to sink your teeth into. Here are five worth watching.

Croatia's goalkeeper is an expert at saving penalties. He explains how he does it to Nick Miller...

Exploring the philosophy that has enabled a small European nation to punch way above their weight

Modric is currently playing for Madrid at the Club World Cup and will become a free agent once Madrid's tournament ends.

Ajax have given the left-back permission to travel to the UK ahead of a proposed move and he is set to undergo a medical on Monday.

The 27-year-old is among several options Palace are considering as they look to add depth and competition for Tyrick Mitchell.

The former West Ham and Croatia coach on Dimitri Payet, Luka Modric and why every team needs a 'safe house'

The 39-year-old announced his decision to leave Madrid last month, ending his 14-year stay in the Spanish capital.

Modric will leave Real Madrid this summer as a club legend. Here, Jose Mourinho and more figures from his career explain his impact

The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner helped Real Madrid to lift six Champions League trophies since joining from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012.

Cannavaro won seven of his 14 competitive matches in charge of the Croatian club, including victory over Milan in the Champions League.

When normies like us all travel, we find ourselves daunted with a wide array of features among our prospective homes away from home.Of course, our trips for work and personal reasons alike are seldom under the guise of a grand quadrennial competition. While the match venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States) were announced in June 2022, the places where qualified teams will log more of their time are still undetermined.As of November, FIFA has identified 49 potential training sites that will serve as the participating nations’ base camps.

Croatia managed to beat France on their home turf on Thrusday evening — now can they win the Nations League?

The 23-year-old tested positive for erythropoietin (EPO) in September 2022.

European champions Spain have been drawn against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Nations League, while Germany will play Italy.France face 2023 Nations League runners-up Croatia and Portugal will play Denmark in the other two quarter-final ties.The winner of the Netherlands against Spain will play either France or Croatia in the semi-finals, while the winner of Germany versus Italy will face either Portugal or Denmark.In the promotion and relegation play-offs between League A and League B, Scotland have been drawn against Greece, Belgium play Ukraine, Austria face Serbia and...