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FIFA on Tuesday introduced the process for the 2026 World Cup Dec. 5 draw, together with the composition of the 4 pots and order that groups will face one another as soon as the draw is accomplished.
The draw, to be held on the Kennedy Middle in Washington, D.C., will see 48 groups positioned into 4 pots from which they are going to be drawn into 12 teams of 4 groups. An up to date match schedule, assigning every match to a stadium with its respective kick-off time, shall be launched on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The three host international locations have been positioned into Pot 1 together with the 9 highest-ranked international locations based mostly on FIFA’s rankings. These embody Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
For pot 1, Canada, Mexico and the USA, because the host international locations, shall be recognized by totally different coloured balls and, when drawn, shall be assigned to place A1 for Mexico (inexperienced ball), B1 for Canada (pink ball) and D1 for the USA (blue ball).
The remaining 9 top-ranked groups in pot 1 shall be recognized by 9 balls of the identical colour and robotically allotted to place 1 of the group into which they’re drawn.
The following 12 highest-ranked groups will go into Pot 2.
These embody Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia.
The following 12 highest groups will go into Pot 3, and shall be comprised of Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
The remaining groups will go in Pot 4 together with the six winners of the intercontinental playoffs. This pot contains Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti and New Zealand.
The 4 intercontinental playoff winners will embody 4 groups from UEFA and two groups from elsewhere.
The draw will happen in a way by which groups from the identical confederation can’t be positioned in the identical group. The exception to that is Europe resulting from the truth that there are extra European groups (16) than there are teams (12).
This may end in 4 teams having two European groups with the rest having one crew from Europe.
To make sure aggressive stability, top-ranked Spain and second-ranked Argentina shall be randomly drawn and positioned in teams in reverse pathways. The identical will apply to the third and fourth-highest ranked groups (France and England). This ensures that ought to they every win their group, the 2 highest ranked groups can not meet earlier than the ultimate.
The U.S., which had beforehand been positioned in Group D, will face a crew from Pot 3 in its opening recreation on June 12 in Inglewood, Calif. That shall be adopted by a match in opposition to a crew from Pot 2 on June 19 at Lumen area in Seattle, with its group stage finale happening in opposition to a crew from Pot 4 again in Inglewood. For the USMNT, probably the most troublesome recreation will seemingly be the second match with a crew from Pot 2.
Alongside related strains, Mexico, which has been positioned in Group A, will open the event on June 11 in opposition to a crew from Pot 3 on the Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis, adopted by matches in opposition to a crew from Pot 2 on June 18 on the Estadio Akron exterior Guadalajara, and their last group stage match six days later in opposition to crew from Pot 4 again in Mexico Metropolis
Canada could have a barely totally different schedule. It is going to open the event on June 12 at BMO Subject in Toronto in opposition to a crew from Pot 4. Its second match shall be in Vancouver six days later in opposition to a crew from Pot 3, with the group stage finale in opposition to a crew from Pot 2 additionally in Vancouver.
World Cup draw pots
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR 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 Playoff A, B, C and D, FIFA Playoff Event 1 and a pair of
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