The path to glory for England and Scotland at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been laid out following the official group stage draw in a glittering ceremony. The expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will kick off in June 2026, with the final scheduled for July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Group Stage Fate Sealed for Home Nations
England, under manager Thomas Tuchel, were placed in Group L. Their campaign will begin with a high-profile clash against Croatia, a nation they have a storied history with in recent tournaments. Completing the group are Panama and Ghana, setting up a challenging but navigable route to the knockout stages for one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Scotland, who have also secured automatic qualification, face a formidable task in Group C. They were drawn alongside five-time champions Brazil, African giants Morocco, and Haiti. This group promises thrilling encounters and a stern test for Steve Clarke's side as they aim to progress from a World Cup group for the first time.
European Play-Offs and Final Qualification Spots
The draw is not yet complete for all 48 participants. Four final European spots will be decided in play-offs next March. Notably, Wales and Northern Ireland find themselves in the same play-off section, meaning only one of them can potentially join England and Scotland in North America. The Republic of Ireland is also in the mix for one of these coveted places.
Beyond Europe, two inter-continental play-off tournaments will be held in Mexico next March. Six teams will compete for the final two spots in the main event. One play-off will see the winner of Jamaica versus New Caledonia take on DR Congo. The other will pit the winner of Bolivia against Suriname versus Iraq.
Tournament Ambitions and Manager's Belief
With the draw now known, focus sharpens on preparation. England manager Thomas Tuchel has openly discussed his team's potential, urging his players to believe they can end a 60-year wait for World Cup success. Speaking to ITV, Tuchel said, "You dream about it because it’s huge... If the players bring that [team spirit and fight] then I think anything is possible."
The tournament will open at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with co-hosts Mexico taking to the field. The new 48-team format means the competition will run for over a month, featuring more nations than ever before in World Cup history, with Argentina entering as defending champions.
World Cup 2026 Draw in Full:
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, Denmark/North Macedonia or Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland
- Group B: Canada, Italy/Northern Ireland or Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina, Qatar, Switzerland
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey/Romania or Slovakia/Kosovo
- Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
- Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Ukraine/Sweden or Poland/Albania, Tunisia
- Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
- Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
- Group I: France, Senegal, Bolivia v Suriname or Iraq, Norway
- Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
- Group K: Portugal, New Caledonia/Jamaica v Congo DR, Uzbekistan, Colombia
- Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
