2026 World Cup Draw: Complete Guide to Pots, Possible Groups & Which Teams Are Where

The FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage draw takes place on December 5, 2025, at 12:00 PM ET in Washington, D.C. This historic event will determine which teams face each other in the 12 groups of the biggest World Cup ever. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 World Cup Draw, pots and possible group combinations.​

With 42 teams already in and only 6 playoff spots left, this draw will set the stage for the biggest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams spread across 12 groups.

The 2026 World Cup Pots: Which Teams Are Where?

FIFA divides the 48 teams into four pots based on FIFA World Rankings. Each group will have exactly one team from each pot to ensure balanced competition.​

Pot 1: The Elite 12 Teams

These are the strongest teams plus the three host nations:​

Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, USA, Mexico, Canada​

Key Rule: Spain and Argentina are placed to avoid each other until a potential Final. France and England are also separated to prevent early meetings.​

Pot 2: Strong Contenders (12 Teams)

Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia​

Pot 3: Mid-Tier Nations (12 Teams)

Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Pot 4: Emerging Teams & Playoff Winners (12 Teams)

Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, plus 6 playoff winners from Europe and other regions

Important: Playoff winners like Italy (if they qualify) will be in Pot 4 regardless of their ranking, which could create “Groups of Death”.​

How the 2026 World Cup Draw Works

The draw process is simple but strategic:​

1. Pot 1 teams are drawn first and assigned to groups A through L
2. Pot 2 teams are drawn next and placed in groups
3. Pot 3 teams are drawn and distributed
4. Pot 4 teams fill the remaining spots​

Result: Each group has one team from every pot, creating competitive balance.​

Host Nations Already Assigned

• Mexico → Group A (Position A1)
• Canada → Group B (Position B1)
• USA → Group D (Position D1)​

These three host countries cannot be in the same group and will open the tournament.​

The Top 4 Rule: Why Spain & Argentina Won’t Meet Early

New Rule for 2026: The four highest-ranked teams (Spain, Argentina, France, England) are strategically separated so they cannot meet before the semifinals, assuming they win their groups.​

This means:

• Spain vs Argentina could only happen in the Final
• France vs England cannot meet until the semifinals at earliest
• All four teams are kept on opposite sides of the knockout bracket​

This new seeding system makes the tournament more exciting and fair.​

Key Rules for Group Formation

Continental Restrictions

• Teams from the same confederation cannot be together, except for Europe​
• Exception: Up to two European teams can be in the same group (since 16 European teams are qualifying)​

Host Country Restrictions

• The USA, Mexico, and Canada must be in separate groups​
• They cannot face each other in the group stage​

Possible “Group of Death” Scenarios

With these pots, some nightmare matchups could happen:​

Scenario 1: European Clash

England (Pot 1) + Morocco (Pot 2) + Scotland (Pot 3) + Turkey/Italy (Pot 4) = Tough group​

Scenario 2: South American Battle

Argentina (Pot 1) + Uruguay (Pot 2) + Paraguay (Pot 3) + Ghana (Pot 4) = Highly competitive​

Scenario 3: Brazil’s Challenge

Brazil (Pot 1) + Japan (Pot 2) + Norway (Pot 3) + Italy (Pot 4) = Strong opposition

What Teams Are Still Fighting for Spots?

Of the 48 teams, 42 have qualified. The remaining 6 spots will be decided through playoffs in March 2026:​

European Playoffs (4 spots)

Four playoff paths will crown winners:

• Path A: Italy vs Wales/Northern Ireland/Bosnia
• Path B: Ukraine vs Sweden/Poland/Albania
• Path C: Turkey vs Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo
• Path D: Denmark vs Czech Republic/Ireland/North Macedonia​

Important: European playoff winners go into Pot 4, even if they’re strong teams like Italy.​

Inter-confederation Playoffs (2 spots)

• Path 1: New Caledonia/Jamaica vs DR Congo
• Path 2: Bolivia/Suriname vs Iraq​

2026 World Cup Draw Results

• Group A – Mexico (H), Team A2, Team A3, Team A4
• Group B – Canada(Host), Team B2, Team B3, Team B4
• Group C – Team C1, Team C2, Team C3, Team C4
• Group D – USA(Host), Team D2, Team D3, Team D4
• Group E – Team E1, Team E2, Team E3, Team E4
• Group F – Team F1, Team F2, Team F3, Team F4
• Group G – Team G1, Team G2, Team G3, Team G4
• Group H – Team H1, Team H2, Team H3, Team H4
• Group I – Team I1, Team I2, Team I3, Team I4
• Group J – Team J1, Team J2, Team J3, Team J4
• Group K –Team K1, Team K2, Team K3, Team K4
• Group L – Team L1, Team L2, Team L3, Team L4

Tournament Format: What Happens After Groups?

The new 48-team format is revolutionary:​

• 72 group-stage matches (up from 48 in 2022)
• The top 2 from each group advance automatically
• The 8 best third-place teams also qualify
• Round of 32 with 16 teams eliminated​
• Single elimination continues: Round of 16 → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Final​

This means 32 teams qualify for the knockout stage, compared to just 16 in previous World Cups.​

When and Where to Watch the Draw

Live Broadcast Details

• Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
• Time: 12:00 PM ET / 9:00 AM PT / 5:00 PM GMT / 10:30 PM IST​
• Venue: Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.​
• Duration: Approximately 45 minutes (show ~1 hour 20 minutes)​

Where to Watch

• USA: FOX, Telemundo​
• Canada: TSN​
• Worldwide: FIFA.com, FIFA YouTube​
• Stream: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App​
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Why This Draw Matters

The 2026 World Cup is historic because:

• First 48-team tournament (expanded from 32)​
• Three host countries (USA, Canada, Mexico)​
• 12 groups instead of 8​
• More matches and opportunities for smaller nations​
• New playoff format means underdogs can qualify​

The group stage draw will directly impact which teams advance to the Round of 32 and beyond. Every group placement matters for the tournament’s outcome.​

Quick Summary

The December 5 draw will reveal which teams will clash in the biggest World Cup in history. With strategic seeding, balanced groups, and new playoff opportunities, the 2026 tournament promises exciting football from the very first match.