England will start their World Cup 2026 marketing campaign in opposition to Croatia, whereas Scotland have been drawn alongside Brazil at subsequent summer time’s match.
Thomas Tuchel’s England will open their match in Dallas or Toronto on Wednesday, 17 June, earlier than additionally going through Ghana and Panama in Group L.
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Scotland’s first match on the males’s World Cup for 28 years will likely be in opposition to Haiti on Saturday, 13 June, in Boston or New York, adopted by matches in opposition to Morocco and Brazil in Group C.
Wales or Northern Eire would be part of Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B, ought to both come by means of two rounds of Uefa play-off matches in March.
The Republic of Eire may meet Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in the event that they qualify.
The primary-ever 48-team World Cup will likely be held in Canada, Mexico and the US between 11 June and 19 July 2026.
World Cup 2026 attract full
*Uefa play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Northern Eire
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*Uefa play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden
*Uefa play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania
*Uefa play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Eire or North Macedonia
*Fifa play-off 1: DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia
*Fifa play-off 2: Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname
[BBC]
The place and when every nation will play their matches will likely be confirmed in a separate draw on Saturday at 17:00 GMT, however there’s some certainty at this stage.
After their opener in opposition to Croatia – which comes six days after the match will get beneath manner – England will play Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June in Toronto or Boston, earlier than their last group sport in opposition to Panama on Saturday, 27 June in Philadelphia or New York.
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Following their first males’s World Cup match since 1998 in opposition to Haiti, Scotland face Morocco on Friday, 19 June in Boston or Philadelphia, whereas their assembly with Brazil takes place on Wednesday, 24 June in Atlanta or Miami.
Mexico will tackle South Africa at Estadio Azteca within the opening match of the expanded match, which is able to contain 104 matches happening throughout 16 cities.
In a serious change to the draw, the highest 4 nations within the Fifa world rankings – Spain, Argentina, France and England – have been awarded particular seedings which guarantee they can not meet till the semi-finals, assuming every wins their group.
England, the Euro 2024 runners-up, may meet the winner of Brazil’s group within the quarter-finals.
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In the event that they win their group, the Three Lions will face one of many eight best-performing third-placed sides within the first spherical of knockout matches.
Drawn from pot three, Scotland should play Fifa’s fifth and eleventh best-ranked nations in Brazil – who they may face for a fifth time at a World Cup – and Morocco as they bid to succeed in the knockout stage.
There will likely be 12 teams of 4 groups at subsequent summer time’s match. The teams had been drawn from 4 pots, into which groups had been positioned based mostly on their place in Fifa’s rankings.
The highest two groups in every group will qualify for the knockout levels, together with the eight finest third-placed groups.
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England verdict: ‘Tough group, troublesome opener’
England head coach Tuchel oversaw a flawless World Cup qualifying marketing campaign, his crew successful all their eight matches with out conceding a purpose.
Talking to BBC Sport following the draw, the German stated: “Tough group, troublesome opener. Croatia and Ghana [are] two regulars in World Cups and two proud and powerful nations. Panama I do not know a lot about in the meanwhile, however we are going to earlier than the match begins.
“For me, I’ve solely skilled group soccer in Champions League codecs and the way in which to strategy it was to at all times give it the most important respect and to place all the main focus into successful the group. It at all times appears troublesome, like our group now, however we’re assured and we will likely be effectively ready once we arrive.”
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Croatia had been the highest-ranked nation England may have drawn from pot two, and they’re the aspect England misplaced out to within the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
Within the group stage at that very same match, England defeated Panama 6-1.
“No one needs to be underestimated. After all Croatia is the standout nation however Ghana is at all times filled with expertise, can at all times shock and has a giant historical past in World Cup soccer,” Tuchel stated.
“Panama will attempt to profit from their underdog position. No-one will be underestimated, everybody deserves the fullest respect.”
Scotland verdict: ‘We’ll deliver slightly little bit of magic’
Scotland surprised Denmark with two stoppage-time objectives as they secured World Cup qualification in a dramatic winner-takes-all last group sport final month.
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Almost three many years after their most up-to-date males’s World Cup look, they may meet two of the nations they confronted at France 98 in Brazil and Morocco, plus the lesser-known amount of Haiti.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke instructed BBC Sport: “The draw is implausible. One of many massive issues in my head was no European groups, so we’re taking part in three high sides from three totally different continents of the world and that is what the World Cup is about.”
Waiting for going through report five-time champions Brazil, Clarke stated: “We’re going to deliver slightly little bit of magic as effectively, hopefully.
“It is nice to play them. To return to 1998, when Brazil and Morocco had been within the group, that is slightly little bit of destiny.”
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A World Cup of ‘104 Tremendous Bowls’
US President Donald Trump was awarded the brand new Fifa Peace Prize throughout a star-studded draw ceremony which lasted for greater than two hours in Washington DC.
Trump was offered with a trophy, medal and certificates by Fifa president Gianni Infantino and stated the award, launched to recognise a person’s actions for peace and unity, was “one of many nice honours of my life”.
Fifa president Infantino described the 2026 World Cup for American viewers as equal to watching “104 Tremendous Bowls in a single month”.
The occasion was offered by comic Kevin Hart, mannequin Heidi Klum and actor Danny Ramirez, and featured dwell music performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Lauryn Hill.
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Former England and Manchester United participant Rio Ferdinand performed the draw, accompanied by American sporting greats Tom Brady, Aaron Choose and Shaquille O’Neal, and Canadian ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky.
Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the US had pre-determined group positions to make sure they may contest all group matches in their very own nations.
However Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum every drew their very own nation’s ball to start proceedings.
