FIFA has launched a brand new system for the 2026 World Cup knockout phases that can see the highest 4 seeded groups keep away from one another till a minimum of the semi-finals of subsequent summer time’s 48-team match.
In a tennis-style, much like the one adopted by FIFA throughout final summer time’s Membership World Cup, the highest two groups within the present FIFA rankings – Spain (1) and Argentina (2) – can be on reverse draw pathways, as will the third and fourth-ranked sides, France and England, to make sure aggressive steadiness.
Consequently, the 4 nations can be positioned in numerous quadrants of the knockout section and can be separated into pots. Subsequently, England will keep away from European champions Spain and world champions Argentina till a possible semi-final.
Whereas France, who beat the Three Lions within the World Cup quarter-finals in 2022, are unable to fulfill Thomas Tuchel’s aspect till the ultimate.
How do the pots work?
Among the many prime seeds, England are in pot 1, whereas Scotland are in pot 3. Which means England and Scotland may very well be drawn collectively within the group stage.
Nevertheless, as a most of two European groups might be positioned in every group, if England draw a European opponent from pot 2, Scotland is not going to be drawn with England.
Play-off hopefuls Northern Eire, Republic of Eire and Wales are in pot 4 (see European Play-Off A, B, C under), with Northern Eire and Wales battling for one spot in play-off path A.
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 Event 1 and a pair of
What does this imply for the World Cup draw?
The draw for the finals will happen in Washington, DC, on December 5, beginning at 5pm UK time.
US President Donald Trump will be a part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the John F Kennedy Heart – a performing arts venue the place Trump is chairman – to determine the group stage fixtures. The draw will take between 45-50 minutes with a complete present time anticipated of about 1 hour 20 minutes.
It would start with all of the groups from pot 1 being drawn to teams A to L. It would then proceed with pots 2, 3 and 4 in that order.
For pots 2, 3 and 4, every group’s group place can be decided in response to a predefined allocation sample. A group’s place inside the group will then be decided by the pot from which they’re drawn and by the group into which they’re drawn.
In precept, no group could have a couple of group from the identical confederation drawn into it. This is applicable to all confederations besides UEFA, which is represented by 16 groups. Every group should have a minimum of one, however not more than two UEFA groups drawn into it.
For the 2 FIFA Play-Off Event placeholders, to be able to adjust to FIFA’s basic precept to make sure that no group has a couple of group from the identical confederation drawn into it, the confederation constraint can be utilized to all three groups inside every pathway of the 2 FIFA Play-Off Event placeholders in pot 4.
Pathway 1 of the inter-confederation play-off spots, which incorporates New Caledonia, Jamaica and DR Congo can’t be drawn into a gaggle with Concacaf or African groups. Whereas pathway 2, consisting of Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq, should keep away from South America, Concacaf and Asia.
Saying the draw venue on the White Home in August, Trump stated the World Cup was “the biggest event in sports”, whereas Infantino declared the 104 matches could be like “104 Super Bowls”.
Who has certified already for World Cup?
Forty-two groups have certified for the 2026 World Cup to this point, with a listing under:
World Cup 2026 match schedule
The total fixture listing with group video games and kick-off occasions can be accessible after the draw, however FIFA has already introduced key dates and confirmed that the opening match can be held in Mexico Metropolis.
Whereas the Closing Draw will decide which groups play one another within the group stage, the up to date match schedule, together with the stadium assigned to every match and the respective kick-off time, can be confirmed on Saturday, 6 December.
The ultimate will happen on the New York-New Jersey (MetLife) Stadium – residence of the New York Giants and New York Jets.
Group stage: June 11-27
Spherical of 32: June 28 to July 3
Spherical of 16: July 4-7
Quarter-finals: July 11th of September
Semi-finals: July 14-15
Third-place play-off (‘Bronze ultimate’): July 18
Closing: July 19
