The stage is set for the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw, scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, where the tournament's groups will finally take shape.
FIFA confirmed on Wednesday the list of top-seeded teams based on its latest world rankings, released just after the final rounds of qualifiers concluded across four continents.
Co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico automatically join the pot of No. 1 seeds alongside the world's footballing elites. They are joined by top-ranked Spain, reigning world champion Argentina and runners-up France. The 12 teams form Pot 1 for the draw, which determines the group stage lineup for the expanded 48-team format that debuts in 2026.
Germany Returns to Top Tier, Croatia Drops to Pot 2
Germany, a four-time world champion, secures its
place among the top seeds following a strong qualifying campaign and steady rise in the FIFA rankings.
FIFA's seeding process for the draw relies primarily on its latest world rankings, with automatic host qualification placing the North American co-hosts (USA, Canada, Mexico) in Pot 1 regardless of rank. The remaining pots 2 through 4, will include qualified teams according to ranking order and confederation restrictions.
The 2026 edition marks a historic first with 48 nations participating, up from 32. Teams will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-place teams advancing to a new round of 32 knockout stage. The tournament will be co-hosted across North America, featuring games in 16 cities spread between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
While most nations have secured their tickets to the finals, 22 teams remain in contention for the last six slots through playoffs scheduled for March 2026. Sixteen European teams will compete for four berths through knockout mini-brackets, while six teams from other continents will battle for two intercontinental slots.
In Europe, the playoff draw will see top-seeded sides like Italy, Denmark, Turkey, and Ukraine all under pressure. Italy, the four-time world champion, will again seek redemption after missing out on the past two World Cups. Northern Ireland, Romania, Sweden, and North Macedonia occupy the fourth-seed positions in these brackets.
In the intercontinental playoffs, top-seeded Iraq and Congo will await the winners of matches among Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname.
Top Seeded Teams for World Cup 2026 Draw
United States (Host)
Canada (Host)
Mexico (Host)
Spain (FIFA World No. 1)
Argentina (Defending Champion)
France
England
Portugal
Brazil
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
Who are the Seeded Teams in World Cup Qualification Playoffs?
European playoffs seedings
Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.
Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia.
Pot 3: Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo.
Pot 4: Northern Ireland, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia.
Inter-Confederation playoffs
Seeded: DR Congo, Iraq.
Unseeded: Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Suriname.
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