The 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup, the largest ever, will see 48 nations compete for the trophy in a 39-day tournament across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Sixteen venues across the three host countries will stage 104 matches, marking the tournament's return to North America after 32 years.

Argentina will defend the title they won under Lionel Messi in Qatar 2022, while Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan make their World Cup debuts.

The tournament opens in Mexico on June 11 and concludes in the US on July 19, with the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium (formerly MetLife).

Groups: A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Czechia; B: Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland; C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland; D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey; E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador; F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia; G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand; H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay; I: France, Senegal, Iraq, Norway; J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan; K: Portugal, DR Congo, Uzbekistan, Colombia; L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.

FIFA has renamed stadiums to curb ambush marketing: MetLife becomes New York New Jersey Stadium, SoFi becomes Los Angeles Stadium.

The format includes a group stage and four knockout rounds: round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.

Uzbekistan, making its debut, is drawn in Group K alongside Portugal, DR Congo, and Colombia.

Source: www.aljazeera.com