The path to glory for England, Scotland, and the home nations will be mapped out today as the draw for the historic 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place. The tournament, to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first to feature an expanded field of 48 nations competing in a brand-new format.
When and How to Watch the 2026 World Cup Draw
The crucial ceremony is scheduled for 5pm GMT on Friday, 5 December (12pm EST). It will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., with U.S. President Donald Trump anticipated to attend. For viewers in the UK, broadcast details will be confirmed by major sports networks, with live streaming expected via their respective online platforms and apps.
Understanding the New 48-Team Format and Draw Pots
This groundbreaking edition will see teams split into 12 groups of four. The draw pots are largely confirmed, with 42 of the 48 qualifiers already known. The final six spots, to be decided in play-offs next March, will be placed into Pot 4.
Pot 1 contains the three host nations—assigned to specific groups already—plus the nine highest-ranked qualified teams. Mexico is in Group A, Canada in Group B, and the USA in Group D. They are joined by footballing powerhouses including Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Pot 2 features the next best-ranked sides, such as Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, and Australia.
Pot 3 includes nations like Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, and debutants Uzbekistan, alongside Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
Pot 4 holds the remaining qualifiers, including debutants Jordan and Cape Verde, plus Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, and New Zealand. It will also contain the four eventual European play-off winners—with Wales, Italy, Republic of Ireland and others still in contention—and the two inter-confederation play-off victors.
Tournament Schedule and Qualification Scenarios
The football festival kicks off on 11 June 2026 at Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium, concluding with the final on 19 July at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In the new format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the round of 32, joined by the eight best third-placed sides, determined by points, goal difference, and goals scored.
For the home nations, the draw brings the North American adventure into sharper focus. England and Scotland already know they will be present. Wales face a tough play-off route against Bosnia-Herzegovina, with Italy or Northern Ireland awaiting the winner. The Republic of Ireland must travel to the Czech Republic, hoping for a home tie against Denmark or North Macedonia.
With the draw setting the stage, anticipation is building for what promises to be the largest and most logistically complex World Cup in history, uniting three host nations and a record number of teams in the pursuit of football's ultimate prize.
