World Cup 2026 Draw: England, Scotland, and More
England will kick off their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia, while Scotland has been drawn alongside Brazil for next summer's tournament.
Under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, England will begin their tournament in either Dallas or Toronto on Wednesday, June 17, facing Ghana and Panama in Group L.
Scotland, participating in the men's World Cup for the first time in 28 years, will play Haiti in their opening match on Saturday, June 13, in Boston or New York. They will also compete against Morocco and Brazil in Group C.
Wales or Northern Ireland could join Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B if either team successfully navigates two rounds of UEFA playoff matches in March.
The Republic of Ireland has the potential to meet Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea if they qualify.
The inaugural 48-team World Cup will take place in Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
World Cup 2026 Draw Summary
*UEFA Playoff A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, or Northern Ireland
*UEFA Playoff B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania, or Sweden
*UEFA Playoff C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, or Romania
*UEFA Playoff D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, or North Macedonia
*FIFA Playoff 1: DR Congo, Jamaica, or New Caledonia
*FIFA Playoff 2: Iraq, Bolivia, or Suriname
The precise scheduling of matches for each nation will be confirmed in a subsequent draw on Saturday at 17:00 GMT, although some details are already established.
Following their opener against Croatia, which takes place six days after the tournament begins, England will face Ghana on Tuesday, June 23, in Toronto or Boston, and conclude their group stage against Panama on Saturday, June 27, in Philadelphia or New York.
Scotland's first men's World Cup match since 1998 against Haiti will be followed by a game against Morocco on Friday, June 19, in Boston or Philadelphia, and a clash with Brazil on Wednesday, June 24, in Atlanta or Miami.
Mexico will host South Africa in the opening match of this expanded tournament, which will feature 104 matches across 16 cities.
In a significant alteration to the draw, the top four nations in the FIFA world rankings—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—have received special seedings that prevent them from facing each other until the semi-finals, should they each win their respective groups.
As runners-up in Euro 2024, England could potentially meet the winner of Brazil's group in the quarter-finals. If they win Group L, the Three Lions will face one of the eight best-performing third-placed teams in the knockout stage.
Scotland, drawn from pot three, is set to face FIFA's fifth and eleventh ranked nations, Brazil and Morocco, respectively, as they aim to progress to the knockout rounds.
The tournament will consist of 12 groups of four teams, with teams drawn from four pots based on their FIFA rankings. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stages, along with the eight best third-placed teams.
England's Outlook: 'Difficult Group, Challenging Opener'
England's head coach, Tuchel, oversaw a perfect qualifying campaign, winning all eight matches without conceding a goal. After the draw, he commented to BBC Sport, "It's a difficult group and a challenging opener. Croatia and Ghana are both regulars in World Cups and possess significant pride and strength. I don't know much about Panama yet, but we will prepare thoroughly before the tournament starts."
Tuchel noted that his experience in group football has taught him to treat each match with utmost respect. "It always seems challenging, much like our current group, but we are confident and will be well-prepared when we arrive," he added.
Croatia, the highest-ranked nation England could have faced from pot two, was the team that eliminated England in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. In the group stage of that tournament, England had a decisive 6-1 victory over Panama.
“No one should be underestimated,” Tuchel emphasized. “While Croatia stands out, Ghana is a nation rich in talent and history in World Cup football. Panama will aim to capitalize on their underdog status. All teams deserve our utmost respect.”
Scotland's Perspective: 'We Will Bring a Touch of Magic'
Scotland's dramatic qualification, marked by two stoppage-time goals against Denmark in a must-win final group match last month, has set the stage for their return to the World Cup. Nearly 30 years after their last appearance, they will face Brazil and Morocco, as well as the less familiar opponent, Haiti.
Scotland's manager, Steve Clarke, expressed his enthusiasm to BBC Sport, stating, "The draw is fantastic. One of my main considerations was to avoid European teams, so we are excited to face three top sides from three different continents—that's what the World Cup is all about."
Looking forward to facing the five-time champions Brazil, Clarke added, "We aim to bring a little bit of magic as well. It’s thrilling to play them again. The fact that Brazil and Morocco were in our group back in 1998 feels like a twist of fate."
A World Cup of '104 Super Bowls'
The draw ceremony, which lasted over two hours in Washington, D.C., included a significant moment when U.S. President Donald Trump was awarded the new FIFA Peace Prize. Presented by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump received a trophy, medal, and certificate, calling it "one of the great honors of my life."
Infantino described the 2026 World Cup to American audiences as comparable to experiencing "104 Super Bowls in one month." The event featured a host of presenters, including comedian Kevin Hart, model Heidi Klum, and actor Danny Ramirez, along with live performances from Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Lauryn Hill.
Former England and Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand conducted the draw alongside Samantha Johnson, with assistance from American sports icons Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
The co-hosting nations Mexico, Canada, and the United States had predetermined group positions to ensure they will play all their group matches on home soil. Each leader, including Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, drew their nations' balls to commence the proceedings.