The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will likely be held on Friday in Washington, D.C. and the certified groups will be taught who their three group stage opponents will likely be, in addition to their paths to the ultimate.
The largest World Cup ever will kick off in June and , up from the 32 that we noticed on the earlier seven tournaments. USA 1994 was the final World Cup to characteristic 24 groups after FIFA elevated the whole variety of collaborating nations to 32 starting with France 1998.
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On Friday, we are going to be taught the place the 39 certified nations and three host nations will land in every of the 12 World Cup teams. On Saturday, FIFA will reveal the match venues and kickoff instances with the match starting June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis.
Who’s in every pot?
The certified groups and hosts have been positioned into 4, 12-team pots primarily based on the latest .
The three host nations — the U.S., Mexico and Canada — together with the highest 9 ranked groups make up Pot 1. Groups ranked 13-24 are in Pot 2; groups ranked 25-36 fall into Pot 3; whereas the ultimate 12 ranked groups, together with the six TBD playoff winners, have been positioned into Pot 4.
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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, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Playoff A, B, C and D, Intercontinental Playoff 1 and a couple of
General, there will likely be 16 groups from Europe, 9 groups from Africa, eight groups from Asia, six groups from North America, six groups from South America, and one workforce from Oceania.
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There have been 12 qualifiers so removed from Europe, leaving 4 locations up for grabs in the course of the March playoff matches. The Intercontinental Playoffs, additionally in March, will characteristic two groups from North America, one from Asia, one from Africa, one from South America, and one from Oceania vying for 2 spots.
How does the draw work?
As soon as the draw commences, groups will likely be positioned into considered one of 12, four-team teams starting with the U.S., Canada and Mexico and the remaining Pot 1 groups. The host nations have already been drawn into their respective teams with Mexico going into Group A; Canada into Group B; and the U.S. in Group D.
As soon as Pot 1 groups have been drawn into their respective teams, attracts for Pot 2, 3 and 4 groups will full the method.
(by way of FIFA)
Groups will play towards each other in three group video games to find out the nations that can advance to the knockout spherical stage.
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There will likely be 32 groups advancing to the knockout spherical following the group stage. The highest two groups from every group will transfer on together with the eight finest third-place groups. Tiebreakers will encompass (so as) purpose differential, objectives scored, head-to-head play, honest play report after which drawing of tons.
For this World Cup, FIFA has tweaked issues. Within the pursuit of aggressive steadiness, two pathways have been created to the semifinals which can forestall the 2 highest-ranking groups from assembly earlier than the ultimate ought to they win their respective teams. For example, Spain is the highest-ranked workforce within the match, with defending champion Argentina ranked second. These two nations will likely be drawn into reverse pathways. The identical will go for France (No. 3) and England (No. 4) so the highest 4 groups, ought to they win their teams, won’t meet till the semifinals.
(by way of FIFA)
As with all World Cups, groups from the identical confederation (instance: Brazil and Uruguay) can’t be drawn into the identical group, aside from these from Europe. Every group will characteristic at the very least one, however no more than two European nations.
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When and the place will the U.S., Canada and Mexico play?
As we await to search out out their opponents, we do know the dates and venues for the three host nations for group stage play.
The U.S. will kick off the match on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. They are going to end the group stage with matches on June 19 at Lumen Subject in Seattle and June 25 again at SoFi Stadium.
Canada will open up on June 12 at BMO Subject in Toronto, earlier than ending the group stage June 18 and June 24 with matches at BC Place in Vancouver.
Mexico will get the consideration of enjoying within the opening match on June 11 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis. They are going to play subsequent at Estadio Akron close to Guadalajara on June 18 earlier than returning to Mexico Metropolis for his or her closing group recreation on June 24.
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What are the playoff matchups?
European semifinals – March 26 Pathway A: Italy vs. Northern IrelandPathway A: Wales vs. Bosnia & HerzegovinaPathway B: Ukraine vs. Sweden Pathway B: Poland vs. AlbaniaPathway C: Türkiye vs. Romania Pathway C: Slovakia vs. KosovoPathway D: Denmark vs. North Macedonia Pathway D: Czech Republic vs. Eire
European finals – March 31 Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy or Northern Eire Ukraine or Sweden vs. Poland or Albania Slovakia or Kosovo vs. Türkiye or Romania Czech Republic or Eire vs. Denmark or North Macedonia
Intercontinental semifinals – March 26 New Caledonia vs. Jamaica Bolivia vs. Suriname
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Intercontinental Finals – March 31 Congo vs. New Caledonia or Jamaica Iraq vs. Bolivia or Suriname
The winners of the six playoff qualifiers will likely be positioned into Pot 4.
How one can watch the FIFA World Cup draw
When: Friday, Dec. 5, 12 p.m. ETWhere: John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.TV: Fox Streaming: ,
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