Why England are set to avoid France until the 2026 World Cup final - and dodge Spain and Argentina too
By Rhys Jones
Updated 28/11/2025 at 09:42 GMT
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The 2026 World Cup draw will implement a Wimbledon-style seeding format at next summer’s tournament in North America, which could greatly benefit England and see them avoid fellow top ranked sides Spain, Argentina, and France. A new format means that the four cannot meet until the semi-finals if all those countries top their groups, a new procedure that will "ensure competitive balance."
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FIFA have introduced a major change to the World Cup draw, which could benefit England and other top nations at the tournament next summer.
The four top seeded countries will not be able to meet each other until the semi-finals if they win their groups.
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.
The Wimbledon-style seeding means those four will be kept apart in the knockout phase. It means that if Argentina win their group, they will not be able to face Spain until the final.
That also applies to France and England, who cannot meet until the final and will not face Argentina or Spain until the semi-finals.
FIFA used the same ranking system and the "two separate pathways" for the Club World Cup in the summer, and said that the new procedure is to "ensure competitive balance".
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Previous World Cups have had no restrictions on match-ups in the knockout rounds and two favourites could meet as early as the round of 16, such as when France and Argentina faced off in the 2018 tournament in Russia at that stage.
Such a meeting will not happen in 2026, unless the top four teams slip up and finish second or third in their respective groups.
The draw for the finals will take place on December 5, in Washington DC from 5pm GMT.
FIFA also said that the match schedule for the World Cup, including stadiums and kick-off times, will be confirmed on December 6.
What are the confirmed 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, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
- Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2
How will the draw work?
There are 12 groups at next summer's World Cup, and each group will include 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 (A2), and blue for the USA (D1).
Their group positions are pre-determined and will play their matches in their own countries. Mexico for example, know that they will play their first match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, on June 11.
The remaining nine teams in pot 1, all identified by the colour white, are then drawn into the first available group in alphabetical order. Pots 2, 3, and 4 then go through the same process.
No group can have more than one team from the same conference drawn into it, except from Europe, who have more teams (16) than groups participating.
How are the remaining qualifiers determined?
The UEFA and interconfederation playoff paths were announced on November 20.
UEFA playoffs have four paths, with 16 teams participating - 12 runners-up from the European Qualifiers group stage plus four teams that qualified via the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League.
For the UEFA playoffs, four paths were created. Each path consists of four teams contesting two
Semi-finals (March 26, 2026)
Path A
SF1: Italy v Northern Ireland
SF2: Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina
SF1: Italy v Northern Ireland
SF2: Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina
Path B
SF3: Ukraine v Sweden
SF4: Poland v Albania
SF3: Ukraine v Sweden
SF4: Poland v Albania
Path C
SF5: Turkey v Romania
SF6: Slovakia v Kosovo
SF5: Turkey v Romania
SF6: Slovakia v Kosovo
Path D
SF7: Denmark v North Macedonia
SF8: Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
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
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The interconfederation playoffs, 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 then contest two semi-finals and the winners advanced to face the seeded teams.
INTERCONFEDERATION PLAYOFFS
Semi-finals (March 26, 2026)
Path A: New Caledonia v Jamaica
Path B: Bolivia v Surniname
Path B: Bolivia v Surniname
Finals (March 31 2026)
Path A: DR Congo v Winner of Semi-final A
Path A: Iraq v Winner of Semi-final B
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