By Martin Graham
England’s journey at the 2026 global showpiece will begin against Croatia, with Thomas Tuchel’s squad also meeting Ghana and Panama in Group L. Their first outing is scheduled for 17 June, hosted either in Dallas or Toronto. That match comes nearly a week after the competition begins. Two further fixtures follow: a meeting with Ghana on 23 June in either Toronto or Boston and a closing contest against Panama on 27 June in Philadelphia or New York.
Scotland returns to the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1998 and opens against Haiti on 13 June, with Boston or New York serving as the possible settings. Morocco awaits on 19 June in Boston or Philadelphia, and their high-profile encounter with Brazil will be held on 24 June in Atlanta or Miami. Their draw places them alongside the fifth- and 11th-ranked teams in the world.
The expanded 48-nation edition will unfold across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from 11 June to 19 July. With 16 cities involved and 104 matches planned, the event will begin at Estadio Azteca, where Mexico faces South Africa in the curtain-raiser. Twelve groups of four teams were formed using the international ranking table to seed each pot. The two highest performers in each section and eight strong third-place teams move into the elimination rounds.
Play-off routes and group overview
Multiple European sides still depend on March play-offs. Either Wales or Northern Ireland could join Group B, entering alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland if they progress through two qualifying rounds. Italy, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and North Macedonia are among other nations navigating these routes. Additional intercontinental slots remain open through two separate FIFA playoff tracks involving countries such as DR Congo, Jamaica, Iraq, Bolivia, and Suriname.
The full group composition brings heavyweight clashes and unfamiliar meetings. Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland form Group C, while France shares Group I with Senegal, Norway, and one intercontinental qualifier. Elsewhere, Argentina meets Algeria, Austria, and Jordan in Group J, and Portugal leads Group K with Uzbekistan, Colombia, and another playoff entrant. Hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States each occupy predetermined positions that ensure all of their group matches occur at home.
A revised draw rule gives the four highest-ranked teams—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—guaranteed pathways that prevent them from crossing before the last four, provided they all top their groups. Should England finish first, their initial knockout opponent will be one of the third-placed teams with the strongest record. A possible quarter-final with the winner of Brazil’s section also lies on their side of the bracket.
Reactions and ceremony highlights
Tuchel, reflecting on England’s assignment, labelled it a stern opening trio. He noted Croatia’s pedigree, Ghana’s long-standing competitiveness, and Panama’s desire to seize their opportunity. His squad progressed through qualifying with eight victories and no goals conceded, and he emphasized the need to pursue the group’s top spot with complete focus.
Croatia represents the most challenging draw England could have received from their pot, and memories linger of the 2018 semi-final setback. England last met Panama on the World Cup stage in that same tournament, producing a 6-1 triumph, though Tuchel insisted that every opponent merits complete attention.
A lengthy ceremony in Washington DC included the presentation of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump, who was honored by Gianni Infantino. The show featured appearances by well-known figures from sport and entertainment, with Rio Ferdinand conducting the draw alongside athletes from American football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey. Hart, Klum, and Ramirez hosted, supported by musical performances from globally recognized artists.
The next step for all qualified teams arrives with a second draw that will distribute fixtures across the host cities on Saturday at 17:00 GMT.
