The anticipation is building. Tonight, England and Scotland will discover who stands between them and World Cup glory in the expanded 2026 tournament. The draw in Washington DC will divide the 48 competing nations into twelve challenging groups, setting the stage for a summer of intense football.
But fans eager to finalize travel plans and secure their place in the stands will need to exercise a little patience. Unlike previous tournaments where the complete schedule – groups, dates, and venues – were revealed simultaneously, FIFA is taking a measured approach.
The sheer scale of the 2026 World Cup, boasting a record 104 matches, demands meticulous planning. FIFA requires an additional 24 hours to ensure every logistical detail is perfected before releasing the full fixture list.
A second ceremony, scheduled for Saturday evening in Washington DC (5pm UK time), will unveil the precise dates and locations of each group stage game. England and Scotland supporters will finally learn when and where to support their nations.
The draw itself will be a spectacle, hosted by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and featuring football legends. Representatives from qualified teams, and those still vying for a spot, will be in attendance, adding to the electric atmosphere.
The tournament’s composition is already taking shape, with Pot 1 confirmed to include footballing giants like Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Pot 2 features strong contenders such as Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, and Australia. The competition is fierce even before a ball is kicked.
Pot 3 includes teams like Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, promising intriguing matchups.
The final pot, Pot 4, will be completed by the winners of various European play-offs and inter-confederation play-offs, adding a final layer of drama and uncertainty to the group stage formation.
European play-off paths are already defined, with Wales/Bosnia & Herzegovina facing Italy/Northern Ireland in Path A, Ukraine/Sweden battling Poland/Albania in Path B, Slovakia/Kosovo taking on Turkiye/Romania in Path C, and Czechia/Republic of Ireland competing with Denmark/North Macedonia in Path D.
Inter-confederation play-offs will see New Caledonia/Jamaica face DR Congo in Path 1, and Bolivia/Suriname compete against Iraq in Path 2, both culminating in a one-off tournament in Mexico on March 26th and 31st, 2026.
The opening match of the 2026 World Cup is already set: Mexico will host another group stage opponent at the iconic Mexico City Stadium on June 11, 2026, officially kicking off a tournament poised to be the biggest and most captivating yet.
