India, Dec. 6 -- The draw for the expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup took place Friday at the Kennedy Centre, delivering a slate of intriguing group-stage matchups and reviving several iconic rivalries. Holders Argentina and leading contenders Spain and England were all handed kind draws.

The ceremony, attended by U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, marked a major milestone ahead of the first World Cup co-hosted by three nations.

This edition will welcome a record number of teams and introduce 12 groups of four. As the draw played out, the blockbuster matchups and historical echoes quickly became evident.

Co-host Mexico was placed in Group A alongside South Korea...