The 2026 World Cup draw takes place today in Washington DC, determining the group stage matchups for the tournament's historic expansion to 48 teams. The ceremony at the Kennedy Center, starting at 5pm UK time, will sort the participating nations into 12 groups of four teams each.
England and Scotland have secured their spots for next summer's tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland remain in contention through playoff matches scheduled for March.
The draw places teams into four pots based on FIFA rankings, with host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States guaranteed Pot 1 status alongside football's traditional powerhouses. England joins Spain, Argentina, France, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany in the top pot. Scotland sits in Pot 3.
FIFA rules permit only one team per confederation in each group, with a sole exception for UEFA. European teams can appear together, with groups allowed one or two UEFA nations.
Best and worst case scenarios
England's most favorable draw would pair them with Iran from Pot 2, South Africa from Pot 3 and New Zealand from Pot 4. The worst scenario for Thomas Tuchel's side would involve stronger opponents like Croatia from Pot 2 and Norway from Pot 3.
Wales, if they qualify through playoffs, face a dream scenario of Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia. Their nightmare group could feature France or Spain, Croatia and Norway with its Premier League stars Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.
The complete team allocation shows Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia in Pot 2. Pot 3 contains Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Tournament controversies mount
Significant issues have emerged six months before the tournament starts. US President Donald Trump's travel ban affects 12 countries, including qualified teams Haiti and Iran.
Trump threatened last month to remove host status from Democrat-governed cities, stating: «If we think there's going to be any sign of any trouble, I would ask Gianni to move that to a different city.» He added: «We have a lot of cities that would love to have it, No 1, and we'll do it very safely.»
Andrea Florence, executive director of the Sport & Rights Alliance, said in Washington on Wednesday: «The 2026 World Cup is the first to begin with human rights criteria embedded in the bidding process.» She added: «But the deteriorating human rights situation in the United States has put those commitments at risk.»
Ticket prices pose another challenge. Official group game tickets start at $60 (£45), but the cheapest resale ticket for Boston's first non-USA match on June 13 costs $816 (£611). FIFA also launched a blockchain token system, with final ticket opportunities priced at $999 (£748).
A climate action sport group report warns of «very high risk of extreme heat stress conditions» at 10 of the 16 stadiums. Public transport limitations at major North American stadiums could create logistical emergencies for the global event.
Travel planning begins
Fans planning to attend face strategic decisions before match locations are confirmed. Statistical analysis suggests England has a 55 percent probability of playing in the Eastern Region, with Scotland at 50 percent.
Return flights from London, Manchester or Edinburgh to Philadelphia or Atlanta for the tournament start through group games cost around £700. Flights to Guadalajara via Dallas run approximately £1,100 on British Airways and American Airlines.
Hotel prices surveyed on November 18 by HotelPlanner show significant variation. Boston and Vancouver exceed £500 per night, Atlanta reaches £450, New York costs £400, while Houston barely tops £100.
Travelers to the United States require an ESTA permit costing $40 (£31). Canadian visitors need an eTA permit at C$7 (£4). The Mexican authorities confirm: «If you're visiting Mexico as a tourist, you do not need a visa. You'll get a stamp in your passport with the number of days you are allowed to stay.»
The tournament runs from June 11 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City through the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The six remaining qualification spots will be decided by March 31, 2026, with all playoff winners placed into Pot 4.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told African media in August the tournament would offer «welcome to all,» despite the mounting controversies surrounding the event's execution.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
