Becky Sullivan

Of them, France got perhaps the toughest draw.

Kylian Mbappe and company have to face Norway in their star striker, Erling Haaland.

But with the tournament's expansion to 48 teams, it will be easier than ever to reach the knockout stage.

Becky Sullivan in PR News.

The draw sorted all the teams who've qualified for the tournament into 12 groups of four.

After each team plays the others, the top two or three from each group will move on to a knockout round.

The U.S.

got a favorable draw.

They'll face Paraguay and Australia, both of whom the Americans beat in friendly matches this fall.

Their third opponent is TBD.

It'll be the winner of a four-team playoff set for next March between Turkey, Kosovo, Slovakia and Romania.

The favorites to win the World Cup are Spain, England, France, and Brazil.

Of them, France got perhaps the toughest draw.

Kylian Mbappe and company have to face Norway in their star striker, Erling Haaland.

But with the tournament's expansion to 48 teams, it will be easier than ever to reach the knockout stage.

Becky Sullivan, NPR News.

The tournament is expanding from 32 teams to 48, the most ever.

The draw will sort those teams into 12 groups of four.

Those four teams will all play each other.

Then the top two or three from each group will advance to a knockout round.