World Cup 2026 draw explainer: Pots, format, seedings, schedule, play-offs, as England set to learn group opponents

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature a record 48 teams competing in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the draw for the tournament is coming up on December 5. There will be 12 groups at the World Cup, with England one of the seeded teams in the draw. What's the format of the draw? Who could England face in their group? And what is the schedule? We run through everything you need to know.

Who will England draw in the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The draw will take place in Washington DC on Friday, December 5, with a record 48 teams - an increase of 16 from the last World Cup - competing at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina will be the defending champions, with England, France, Spain, Brazil and Portugal among the leading contenders aiming to lift the trophy.

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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.

Of the 48 spots at next year's World Cup, 42 have been filled, with the remaining six decided by UEFA and inter-confederation play-offs, which take place in March.

There are 12 groups at the World Cup, with each group including one team from each of the four pots.

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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.

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Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales will all be competing in the play-offs, though Northern Ireland and Wales are unable to qualify together, as they are battling for one spot in play-off Path A.

If they qualify, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales will be in Pot 4.

Will England be seeded?

Yes. In a major change to the draw, the four top-ranked countries will be seeded.

Spain and Argentina, ranked first and second in the FIFA rankings, will be placed on opposite sides of the draw, along with third-ranked France and fourth-ranked England.

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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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 v Albania

Path C
SF5: Turkey v Romania
SF6: Slovakia v 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 v 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 v 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

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