2026 FIFA World Cup draw separates Spain-Argentina and France-England for final

Spain cannot meet Argentina and France will not face England before the World Cup final – provided they win their groups – after FIFA announced the draw procedure on Tuesday.

The rule is intended to maintain competitive balance in the expanded 48-team format, so that the top-ranked team (Spain) and number two (world champions Argentina) are in opposite halves of the group, while the same applies to number three (France) and number four (England).

Even if these teams do not win their group, the top four ranked countries will only be able to meet in the semi-finals.

The draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place on December 5 in Washington, and the updated match schedule, including stadiums and kick-off times, will be released on December 6.

Host nation Canada, Mexico and the US are in Pot 1, including Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

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Pot 2 consists of Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia.

Pot 3 consists of Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

Pot 4 consists of Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand and the winners of the European play-offs A, B, C and D, and the FIFA Play-Off tournament 1 and 2.

Confederation restrictions will apply, with no group having more than one team from the same region, except UEFA, which has 16 representatives and can place a maximum of two teams in a group.

The tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada starts on June 11, with the final on July 19 in New Jersey.

Published on November 25, 2025