Top four teams won't meet before semis: New FIFA WC draw format keeps Argentina-France apart

For the first time in FIFA World Cup history, the world's top four ranked teams – Spain, Argentina, France and England – will not face off before the semi-finals in the 2026 edition. The tournament's new format has structured the draw pathways in a way that ensures this separation, keeping last edition's finalists Argentina and France from a potential early clash.

The draw for the expanded 48-team tournament will be held tomorrow Friday (5 December) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, starting at 11:00pm Bangladesh time. US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino are expected to attend. The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

So far, 42 teams have qualified for the finals. The remaining six spots will be decided through March 2026 playoffs.

Pots and draw rules The 48 qualified teams are divided into four pots of 12 each. Pot 1 includes the three hosts and the top-ranked teams. The other pots feature strong sides from various confederations.

Draw rules:

• No more than two teams from the same confederation (except Europe) in a group.
• With 16 European teams, each group can have up to two from UEFA.
• Hosts' groups are pre-assigned: Mexico in Group A, Canada in B, USA in D.

World Cup draw pots

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

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

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, UEFA Play-off 1 & 2, UEFA Play-off 4, FIFA Play-off 1 & 2