2026 World Cup - 42 teams set & pots are established

[CRStals]

Now that the federation playdown are complete, we know 42 of the 48 teams that will play in the World Cup next summer and the pots have been established as to who could be drawn against who when the games start next June. Countries are listed with their current FIFA ranking

Pot 1

1. United States (co-host) (14)
2. Mexico (co-host) (15)
3. Canada (co-host) (27)
4. Spain (1)
5. Argentina (2)
6. France (3)
7. England (4)
8. Brazil (5)
9. Portugal (6)
10. Netherlands (7)
11. Belgium (8)
12. Germany (9)

Pot 2

1. Croatia (10)
2. Morocco (11)
3. Colombia (13)
4. Uruguay (16)
5. Switzerland (17)
6. Japan (18)
7. Senegal (19)
8. Iran (20)
9. South Korea (22)
10. Ecuador (23)
11. Austria (24)
12. Australia (26)

Pot 3

1. Norway (29)
2. Panama (30)
3. Egypt (34)
4. Algeria (35)
5. Scotland (36)
6. Paraguay (39)
7. Tunisia (40)
8. Ivory Coast (42)
9. Uzbekistan (50) (debut)
10. Qatar (51)
11. Saudi Arabia (60)
12. South Africa (61)

Pot 4

1. Jordan (66) (debut)
2. Cape Verde (68) (debut)
3. Ghana (72)
4. Curaçao (82) (debut)
5. Haiti (84)
6. New Zealand (86)
7. UEFA play-offs Path A winners
8. UEFA play-offs Path B winners
9. UEFA play-offs Path C winners
10. UEFA play-offs Path D winners
11. IC play-off winners
12. IC play-off winners

What's next?
- UEFA will host playoffs next March that will group the 12 teams that were runners-up in their groups with the next 4 highest ranked teams from the Nations League where teams will be drawn into 4 brackets where teams will need 2 wins to advance.
- FIFA will hold intercontinental playoffs next March with DR Congo and Iraq playing the winners of two semi-finals between four countries: Jamaica, Bolivia, Suriname, and New Caledonia

What does this mean?
It means that there could be some devasting groups drawn, and there could be some soft groups that are put together. Consider that UEFA can only have 2 countries per group, and if the highest seeded teams advance - Italy (12), Denmark (21), Turkey (25, and Ukraine (28), this means that potentially we could see a group with:

argentina, Croatia, Panama and Italy with Panama being the lowest ranked in the group at 30
USA, Morocco, Egypt, and Denmark, with Egypt being the lowest ranked at 34
canada, austria, Scotland, and new zealand with Austria being the highest ranked at 24

Thankfully there will be spots for some third place teams to advance as we have the potential for multiple groups of death.

What country are you pulling for and what would be your best and worst groups drawn??

 

[tagece]

It's possible that we have a groups with Argentina, Morocco, norway and Italy.

 

[CRStals]

It's possible that we have a groups with Argentina, Morocco, Norway and Italy.

Believe it or not, it is - assuming Italy can qualify through the UEFA playdowns...

 

[Lux12]

Lets go BRAZILLL

 

[wrzlbrnft]

It's possible that we have a groups with Argentina, Morocco, Norway and Italy.

At the moment it is not decided yet whether the 4 UEFA play-off winnners will be ranked all in Pot 4 or there will be ranked according their current FIFA ranking.
Italy is #12 and Denmark #21, they could go in Pot 2 if they qualify, also Turkey as #25.

If so, a group Argentina, Morocco, Italy, Norway would not be possible.
but Argentina, Croatia, Norway, Ghana, not bad either.

I hope for germany, Ecuador, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde

 

[frost234]

I think there are too many teams for the Championship.

 

[Kerasuss28]

Now that the federation playdown are complete, we know 42 of the 48 teams that will play in the World Cup next summer and the pots have been established as to who could be drawn against who when the games start next June. Countries are listed with their current FIFA ranking

Pot 1

1. United States (co-host) (14)
2. Mexico (co-host) (15)
3. Canada (co-host) (27)
4. Spain (1)
5. Argentina (2)
6. France (3)
7. England (4)
8. Brazil (5)
9. Portugal (6)
10. Netherlands (7)
11. Belgium (8)
12. Germany (9)

Pot 2

1. Croatia (10)
2. Morocco (11)
3. Colombia (13)
4. Uruguay (16)
5. Switzerland (17)
6. Japan (18)
7. Senegal (19)
8. Iran (20)
9. South Korea (22)
10. Ecuador (23)
11. Austria (24)
12. Australia (26)

Pot 3

1. Norway (29)
2. Panama (30)
3. Egypt (34)
4. Algeria (35)
5. Scotland (36)
6. Paraguay (39)
7. Tunisia (40)
8. Ivory Coast (42)
9. Uzbekistan (50) (debut)
10. Qatar (51)
11. Saudi Arabia (60)
12. South Africa (61)

Pot 4

1. Jordan (66) (debut)
2. Cape Verde (68) (debut)
3. Ghana (72)
4. Curaçao (82) (debut)
5. Haiti (84)
6. New Zealand (86)
7. UEFA play-offs Path A winners
8. UEFA play-offs Path B winners
9. UEFA play-offs Path C winners
10. UEFA play-offs Path D winners
11. IC play-off winners
12. IC play-off winners

What's next?
- UEFA will host playoffs next March that will group the 12 teams that were runners-up in their groups with the next 4 highest ranked teams from the Nations League where teams will be drawn into 4 brackets where teams will need 2 wins to advance.
- FIFA will hold intercontinental playoffs next March with DR Congo and Iraq playing the winners of two semi-finals between four countries: Jamaica, Bolivia, Suriname, and New Caledonia

What does this mean?
It means that there could be some devasting groups drawn, and there could be some soft groups that are put together. Consider that UEFA can only have 2 countries per group, and if the highest seeded teams advance - Italy (12), Denmark (21), Turkey (25, and Ukraine (28), this means that potentially we could see a group with:

Argentina, Croatia, Panama and Italy with Panama being the lowest ranked in the group at 30
USA, Morocco, Egypt, and Denmark, with Egypt being the lowest ranked at 34
Canada, Austria, Scotland, and New Zealand with Austria being the highest ranked at 24

Thankfully there will be spots for some third place teams to advance as we have the potential for multiple groups of death.

What country are you pulling for and what would be your best and worst groups drawn??

Spain wil win cup anyway, to good

 

[SpanRmonka]

As an England fan, we will want to avoid Norway from pot 3, they have scored a lot of goals in Q. There will be some strong teams in Pot 4 due to the UEFA playoffs. Any team in that playoff is stronger than Pot 4, so any team avoiding these teams will have a weaker group.

It does seem that the pots are not decided, but if this has been released then it seems most likely it will work this way, but who knows

I'm not sure about this world cup, I think there could be too many games, and fans may lose interest in the early stages

 

[valeski 28]

Italy could be eliminated in a play-off for the third time in a row!Gattuso will try to avoid another failure

 

[Pimp 007 x]

I dont really like the idea regarding increasing the total number of teams to 48... It takes away the "prestige" of getting into the world cup final stage. It seem this move was done purely with financial purposes on mind.

However, im very hyped for the start of the tournament. México is my choice, a clear underdog, but if anyone deserves to win, outside of CONMEBOL and UEFA, its them.

 

[GIRAUG73]

Top 7 (not in order)
Argentina
Spain
france
England
Germany
brazil
Norway

special looks to Morocco, Japan and Egypt

 

[CRStals]

Keep in mind that the draw is in two weeks and the last spots won't be known until March .. So yes all those not qualified are going into pot 4... Which does mean Italy, if they advance, could be in a group with Spain... Imagine that.

I don't fully agree with those that say the prestige is gone... All that is happening with a bigger World Cup is matches that may have been played at the confederation level occur at the World Cup now. It's the same number of teams you have to beat, where you do it and how many more eyes are on you changes.

 

[SpanRmonka]

Keep in mind that the draw is in two weeks and the last spots won't be known until March .. So yes all those not qualified are going into pot 4... Which does mean Italy, if they advance, could be in a group with Spain... Imagine that.

I don't fully agree with those that say the prestige is gone... All that is happening with a bigger World Cup is matches that may have been played at the confederation level occur at the World Cup now. It's the same number of teams you have to beat, where you do it and how many more eyes are on you changes.

Appreciate your point of view, however I think the reason for people feeling prestige is weakened, is not so much for the winners but more about the amount of potential dead rubbers and meaningless games!!

After loads of group games we only lose 12 teams from this world cup!!! That puts us at the usual starting point of a WC, despite all those games!!

I'm willing to wait and see, but I have reservations.

 

[tagece]

At the moment it is not decided yet whether the 4 UEFA play-off winnners will be ranked all in Pot 4 or there will be ranked according their current FIFA ranking.
Italy is #12 and Denmark #21, they could go in Pot 2 if they qualify, also Turkey as #25.

If so, a group Argentina, Morocco, Italy, Norway would not be possible.
but Argentina, Croatia, Norway, Ghana, not bad either.

I hope for Germany, Ecuador, Uzbekistan, Cape Verde

I know it. But I'm talking about possibilities. Anyways, in December this will be defined.

 

[Vallet]

Perhaps the best match of the past year took place not so long ago. Scotland vs Denmark is the decisive qualifying game for the World Cup. A lot has happened there. Scissor kick, disputed kick, corner goal, red card, decisive goal in added time, goal from the middle of the field.

 

[TheniT]

There could be some interesting matchups right from the group stage; for this World Cup, I'm hoping there will be a first-time champion.

 

[Risto234]

E: best group would be perhaps Brazil-South Korea-Norway-Turkey
And the "worst" one Canada-Senegal-Qatar-sweden

Although i probably wouldn't mind to watch whatever match from so-called boring group even if it starts in the middle of night for me
For example In brazil world cup the latest matches started 1AM for me with one exception which started at 4AM - i believe it was between some african & asian team (Ivory coast and Japan?) so i assume kickoff times are probably similar for this tournament aswell.

Italy could be eliminated in a play-off for the third time in a row!Gattuso will try to avoid another failure

Pretty sure they should beat Northern ireland at home with ease although wouldnt be surprised should they screw up there and therefore avoid even more difficult awaygame in Wales or Bosnia ...

 

[theoxy]

Good and strong teams , i like it . Should be a good tournament and i cant wait anymore . hehehe .

 

[RENEY444]

FIFA is just another money making corporation now . 48 teams ? Say it ain't so !

 

[dzsire]

Come on Cape Verde and Curaçao! I hope they can show the 'big ones' something.
I know it's quite unlikely, but it's always a great experience when a small team can do wonders.

 

[CRStals]

Come on Cape Verde and Curaçao! I hope they can show the 'big ones' something.
I know it's quite unlikely, but it's always a great experience when a small team can do wonders.

Considering 32 teams qualify for the knockout stage, it might only take one upset for either to get through which would be a story in itself. Personally I'd like to see Haiti do something. That country has been through everything & deserve something positive.

 

[acidburnfx]

Make it rain!

 

[Mundug]

I think many new records will be set with so many small nations participating. One player might even score more than ten goals.

 

[pirateglenn]

I still struggle to see another winner outside of France or Spain.

 

[Vallet]

If the groups turn out to be very competitive, the third-place teams with the best results will still continue to participate in the tournament. Only one team out of four can go home. The mistake of the favorites will not have much effect on the group stage.