Washington, D.C. – The stage is set for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the final draw took place today at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.. Football fans around the globe tuned in to witness which nations their teams would face in the group stage of the expanded tournament, which will be held across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The draw ceremony, which began at 12:00 p.m. ET, determined the paths for the 48 participating teams, a significant increase from the previous 32-team format. This expansion promises a more inclusive and exciting tournament, with more nations getting the opportunity to compete on the world's biggest stage.
As hosts, Mexico, Canada, and the United States were automatically placed in Pot 1 and assigned to positions A1, B1, and D1, respectively. The remaining teams were distributed into four pots based on the FIFA Men's World Ranking as of November 19, 2025.
England, who secured their spot in the tournament with two qualifying games to spare, were also placed in Pot 1. Manager Thomas Tuchel and his squad will be eager to make a strong impression after a seamless qualifying campaign. Scotland, returning to the World Cup stage after a 28-year absence, found themselves in Pot 3. Steve Clarke's team will be looking to make history and advance beyond the group stage for the first time.
The new format consists of 12 groups of four teams, with the top two from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advancing to a Round of 32. This change increases the total number of matches from 64 to 104 and extends the tournament to 39 days. The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The draw maintained geographical balance by preventing groups from having more than one team from the same confederation, with the exception of UEFA, which can have up to two teams per group. This ensured a diverse range of matchups and avoided over-representation from any single region.
For England, a difficult draw could have included Croatia from Pot 2 and Norway from Pot 3. A more favorable outcome might have seen them paired with Iran from Pot 2. Scotland faced the potential of a "nightmare scenario" with Argentina from Pot 1 and Morocco from Pot 2. A more optimistic draw for Scotland could have included Canada from Pot 1 and Australia from Pot 2. The USA's worst-case scenario could have included Morocco from Pot 2 and Norway from Pot 3.
The six remaining spots in the tournament will be determined by play-off matches in March 2026. These matches will involve teams from Europe and an intercontinental play-off tournament.
As the draw concluded, teams and fans alike began analyzing their potential paths to the final. The 2026 World Cup promises to be a historic event, with more teams, more matches, and more opportunities for nations to shine on the global stage.
