So who could face who when the draw is made? What is the format of the draw? Who could England meet? What are the new seedings all about? And what is the schedule for the World Cup?
How does the World Cup draw work?
The draw for the World Cup will take place on December 5, at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC from 17:00 (UK time). US President Donald Trump will join FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino at the draw.
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‘Feels amazing’ – Haaland enjoys Norway celebrations after firing country to 2026 World Cup
Video credit: SNTV
There are 12 groups at the World Cup, with each group including one team from each of the four pots.
The three co-hosts will be identified by different coloured balls in the draw: green for Mexico (A1), red for Canada (B1), and blue for the USA (D1).
Their group positions are pre-determined, and they will play their matches in their own countries. Mexico know they will open the World Cup at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11.
| Confirmed World Cup draw pots |
| Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany |
| Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia |
| Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa |
| Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2 |
The remaining nine teams in Pot 1, all identified by the colour white, will then be drawn into different groups. Pots 2, 3, and 4 then go through the same process.
No group can have more than one team from the same confederation drawn into it, except Europe as it will have more teams (16) than groups participating. Each group must have at least one European team, but no more than two.
Can England face Scotland?
As England are in Pot 1 and Scotland are in Pot 3 they could be drawn together.
However, if England are paired with a European team from Pot 2 then Scotland cannot be put into the same group.
There is also the potential for Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales to be drawn with England or Scotland if they make it to the World Cup.
If they qualify, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales will be in Pot 4.
Will England be seeded?
This means, if they win their groups, France and England cannot meet until the final and would not face Argentina or Spain until the semi-finals.
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Emotional scenes as Curacao become smallest nation to qualify for World Cup
Video credit: SNTV
What is the World Cup schedule?
The match schedule for the World Cup, including kick-off times, is set to be confirmed on December 6.
FIFA says that “the match allocation process that follows the draw aims to ensure the best possible conditions for all teams while, where possible, enabling fans all over the world to watch their teams play live across different time zones”.
It has been confirmed that the World Cup will start with Mexico playing at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, June 11, and the final will be held at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey on Sunday, July 19.
The group stage finishes on June 27 and is followed by the knockout rounds.
World Cup schedule
- Group stage: June 11-27
- Last 32: June 28-July 3
- Last 16: July 4-7
- Quarter-finals: July 9-11
- Semi-finals: July 14-15
- Final: July 19
Which teams are in the play-offs?
The final six spots at the 2026 World Cup will be filled by four teams from UEFA play-offs and two from interconfederation play-offs.
UEFA play-offs have 16 teams participating – 12 runners-up from the European qualifiers plus four teams who qualified via the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League – including Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.
Wales and Northern Ireland could meet in the final of the Path A play-offs, while Republic of Ireland play Czech Republic in their semi-final.
Semi-finals (March 26, 2026)
Path A
SF1: Italy v Northern Ireland
SF2: Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina
Path B
SF3: Ukraine v Sweden
SF4: Poland in Albania
Path C
SF5: Turkey in Romania
SF6: Slovakia in Kosovo
Path D
Sf7: Denmark v North Macedonia
SF8: Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
Finals (March 31, 2026)
Path A: Wales / Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy / Northern Ireland
Path B: Ukraine / Sweden v Poland / Albania
Path C: Slovakia / Kosovo in Turkey / Romania
Path D: Czech Republic / Republic of Ireland v Denmark / North Macedonia
The inter-confederation play-offs, officially called the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament, has two paths for six teams.
DR Congo and Iraq, who have the highest FIFA ranking, were seeded and placed directly in each path’s final.
The four remaining teams will contest two semi-finals and the winners advance to face the seeded teams.
Semi-finals (March 26, 2026)
Path A: New Caledonia in Jamaica
Path B: Bolivia v Suriname
Finals (March 31 2026)
Path A: DR Congo v Winner of Semi-final A
Path B: Iraq v Winner of Semi-final B
