England and Scotland have discovered their opponents for next year’s 2026 World Cup after the draw in the United States, featuring some of American sport’s biggest superstars.
England will play Croatia, Panama and Ghana in Group L, while Scotland will face Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in Group C.
The Three Lions will be seen as favourites alongside Croatia to progress to the knockout stages, while Scotland may consider their group less dangerous than other potential permutations.
The draw took place in Washington D.C. on Friday afternoon, with US president, Donald Trump, in attendance.
Trump was awarded the inaugral FIFA Peace Prize before the award and gave a brief speech before a series of US sports legends, including Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal, drew the teams.
France, 2022’s beaten finalists, will play Norway, Senegal, and the winner of intercontinental play-off 2 (Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq). That means Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland – widely seen as the two best strikers in the world – will face off when France meet Norway.
Canada were drawn in Group B, alongside Switzerland, 2022 hosts Qatar, and the winner of UEFA play-off A, which features Wales v Bosnia and Herzegovina, who will play the winner of Italy v Northern Ireland in March next year.
Mexico will play South Korea, South Africa, and the winner of UEFA play-off D (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia or the Republic of Ireland), while the USA face Australia, Paraguay, and the winner of UEFA play-off C (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo).
Current World Cup holders Argentina are in Group J, alongside Austria, Algeria and Jordan.
Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, will play Colombia, Uzbekistan, and the winner of intercontinental play-off 1 in Group K. Intercontinental play-off 1 sees the winner of New Caledonia v Jamaica take on DR Congo.
Full 2026 World Cup draw
Group A
- Mexico
- South Korea
- South Africa
- Winner UEFA play-off D
Group B
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Qatar
- Winner UEFA play-off A
Group C
- Brazil
- Morocco
- Scotland
- Haiti
Group D
- United States
- Australia
- Paraguay
- Winner UEFA play-off C
Group E
- Germany
- Ecuador
- Ivory Coast
- Curacao
Group F
- Netherlands
- Japan
- Tunisia
- Winner UEFA play-off B
Group G
- Belgium
- Iran
- Egypt
- New Zealand
Group H
- Spain
- Uruguay
- Saudi Arabia
- Cape Verde
Group I
- France
- Senegal
- Norway
- Winner intercontinental play-off 2
Group J
- Argentina
- Austria
- Algeria
- Jordan
Group K
- Portugal
- Colombia
- Uzbekistan
- Winner intercontinental play-off 1
Group L
- England
- Croatia
- Panama
- Ghana
What is the World Cup schedule?
The match schedule for the World Cup, including kick-off times, is set to be confirmed on December 6.
FIFA says that “the match allocation process that follows the draw aims to ensure the best possible conditions for all teams while, where possible, enabling fans all over the world to watch their teams play live across different time zones”.
It has been confirmed that the World Cup will start with Mexico playing at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, June 11, and the final will be held at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey on Sunday, July 19.
The group stage finishes on June 27 and is followed by the knockout rounds.
World Cup schedule
- Group stage: June 11-27
- Last 32: June 28-July 3
- Last 16: July 4-7
- Quarter-finals: July 9-11
- Semi-finals: July 14-15
- Final: July 19
