England’s possible opponents in World Cup 2026 group stage revealed

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The introduction of seeding to the World Cup draw means England will avoid Spain and Argentina until the semi-finals and France until the final if all four teams top their groups

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England are guaranteed to avoid giants Spain, France and Argentina until the latter stages of next summer’s World Cup if all four countries top their groups.

Fifa has introduced seeding to the draw for the 2026 tournament, meaning the top four seeded countries will not meet each other until the semi-finals.

The top four seeded countries are Spain, Argentina, France, and England in that order.

Third seeds France and fourth seeds England have been paired, meaning they have been separated into the two halves of the knockout format and cannot meet until the final, in a similar format to Wimbledon.

Spain and Argentina have also been paired, meaning the earliest England could face either side is in the semi-finals.

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All of these permutations apply if the four top seeds win their groups, with the idea being that Fifa can avoid blockbuster matches happening early in the tournament and top sides sending each other out before the latter stages.

All four top seeds have been drawn in Pot 1 for the World Cup draw, which will take place on 5 December. Hosts Canada, Mexico and the USA are also in Pot 1.

Who will England face?

The draw will feature 12 groups with one team from each of the four pots, with the seeded countries all being drawn in position one within that group.

No group can have more than one country from the same confederation, except for Europe. Four groups will have two Uefa nations because there are 16 qualifiers to fit into 12 groups - so England will face a maximum of one other European nation.

In addition to avoiding the other three seeds and three host countries, England will avoid drawing Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany in their group as a result of being placed in the same pot.

They could however face Scotland, who have been drawn in Pot 3, or any one of Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Wales if they qualify; should those three sides make it through the play-offs, they will be drawn in Pot 4.

England’s opponents therefore will be three of: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia (all Pot 2); Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa (all Pot 3); Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2 (all Pot 4); with a maximum of one other European nation.

Confirmed World Cup pots ahead of draw

Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany

Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2

Fifa has confirmed that the World Cup match schedule, including stadiums and kick-off times, will be confirmed on Saturday 6 December.

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