Fifa has revealed a historic change for the 2026 World Cup draw: the top four seeded teams will not face each other until the semi-finals for the first time in tournament history. This new system is designed to protect the highest-ranked countries from clashing too early and to create blockbuster matchups in the later stages.
Spain (1st seed) and Argentina (2nd) will be paired and placed in opposite halves of the knockout bracket, while France (3rd) and England (4th) will also be paired in a similar fashion. This means England will avoid Spain or Argentina until the semi-finals and France until the final, provided all four win their respective groups.
“This is an exciting step for the World Cup,” said a Fifa spokesperson. “It ensures that fans have a chance to see the strongest teams collide in the most crucial stages of the tournament, increasing the drama and spectacle.”
How the Draw Will Work
The 12 World Cup groups will each feature one team from four pots, with the top seeds drawn first. Co-hosts Mexico, Canada, and the United States will have colored balls displaying their flags to signify their special status, with their group positions pre-set so all matches are played in their countries.
Once a team is drawn, it will be placed into the first available group in alphabetical order. The draw computer ensures Spain, Argentina, France, and England are placed in the correct sections of the bracket. Pots two, three, and four will follow, with restrictions to prevent teams from the same confederation being drawn into the same group, except in cases where Europe has multiple teams to fill the 12 groups.
“Pairing the top seeds is similar to Wimbledon or the Champions League system,” explained Fifa’s draw official.
“It allows us to plan a fair path while also safeguarding marquee matchups for the later knockout rounds.”
Pot Details and Special Notes
Scotland will be in pot three, while six play-off winners—including potential entries like Wales, Northern Ireland, or the Republic of Ireland—will be in pot four. Debutants Uzbekistan are in pot three, with first-timers Jordan, Cape Verde, and Curacao in pot four.
In a change from previous procedures, countries will not be drawn directly into positions within the group. Seeded nations are automatically assigned position one, and a pre-determined random grid will determine the placement of other teams to create the fixtures.
Confederation restrictions still apply: for example, Colombia from pot two cannot be drawn with Argentina or Brazil, and play-off winners have limited potential groups based on confederation alignment.
The official match schedule, including venues and kick-off times, will be confirmed the day after the draw, on 6 December, even though the group allocations will be revealed during the draw on 5 December at 17:00 GMT.
Also Read: Motherwell Punish 10-Man Hibs in Dominant Fir Park Display