The draw for the 2026 World Cup took place in Washington DC on Friday, with England drawn against Croatia, Panama and Ghana in Group L. Thomas Tuchel's side will face Croatia in their opening match, a repeat of the 2018 semi-final. Tuchel described the group as 'difficult' but expressed confidence in his team's preparation.
Scotland, making their first World Cup appearance since 1998, were placed in Group C alongside Brazil, Morocco and Haiti. The draw also saw Wales and Northern Ireland placed in Uefa pathway A, where they could qualify to join Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
The United States will face Australia and Paraguay in Group D, with the fourth team to be determined from a play-off involving Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo and Romania. USA coach Mauricio Pochettino said the group would be challenging but expressed optimism about progressing.
The ceremony featured a performance by Andrea Bocelli, the awarding of the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize to Donald Trump, and a rendition of YMCA by the Village People. The event was described as a 'prolonged and stilted fever dream' by observers.
