FIFA announced the draw rules for next year’s Men’s World Cup on November 25, with the draw ceremony scheduled for December 5 in Washington, D.C., USA.
According to the rules, the 48 teams are divided into four pots, with 12 teams in each pot. The draw will first select all teams from Pot 1, placing them into Groups A through L. Subsequently, teams from Pot 2, Pot 3, and Pot 4 will be drawn in order.
As co-hosts, Canada, Mexico, and the United States are all placed in Pot 1. The 39 already qualified teams are allocated to the four pots based on the world rankings released on the 19th. Two teams qualifying through the FIFA playoffs and four teams advancing through the European playoffs are placed in Pot 4.
It is already confirmed that the three host teams will be positioned as follows: Mexico as A1, Canada as B1, and the United States as D1. To ensure balanced distribution of teams, the draw will guarantee that Spain, the highest-ranked team, and Argentina, the second-highest-ranked team, are placed in different semifinal paths. The same rule applies to third-ranked France and fourth-ranked England.
Additionally, since there are 16 European teams, each group will include at least one European team but no more than two. Teams from other confederations will not face each other in the same group.
The team pots are as follows:
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, United States, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany;
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia;
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa;
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, four European playoff teams, two FIFA playoff teams.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., is the capital city of the United States, founded in 1790 to serve as the nation’s permanent seat of government. It was established by the Constitution and planned by Pierre L’Enfant, featuring iconic landmarks such as the White House, the Capitol Building, and the Washington Monument that reflect its historical and political significance.
Canada
Canada is a vast North American country with a rich history shaped by Indigenous peoples for millennia, followed by French and British colonization beginning in the 16th century. It evolved from a collection of British colonies into a fully independent sovereign state, celebrated for its official bilingualism and multicultural identity. Today, it is renowned for its diverse landscapes, vibrant cities, and as a global leader in quality of life.
Mexico
Mexico is a country with a rich and complex history, home to advanced pre-Columbian civilizations like the Maya and Aztec, whose monumental ruins, such as Chichén Itzá and Teotihuacán, still stand today. Following the Spanish conquest in the 16th century, a period of colonial rule left a profound architectural and cultural legacy, evident in its cities and Catholic traditions. This fusion of indigenous and European influences has created a vibrant, unique national culture celebrated worldwide for its food, art, and festivals.
United States
The United States is a North American nation founded in 1776 after declaring independence from Great Britain. It grew from thirteen original colonies into a global superpower, shaped by waves of immigration, a civil war, and a democratic constitution. Its diverse culture is a product of its history as a land of indigenous peoples, European settlers, and enslaved Africans.
Spain
Spain is a southwestern European country with a rich and complex history shaped by successive influences, including the Romans, Visigoths, and a centuries-long period of Muslim rule known as Al-Andalus. This diverse heritage is reflected in its iconic cultural sites, from the Islamic Alhambra palace in Granada to the Gothic cathedrals of Castile. Today, Spain is a constitutional monarchy renowned for its vibrant regional cultures, flamenco music, and artistic legacy, including masters like Goya, Picasso, and Dalí.
Argentina
Argentina is a South American nation with a rich cultural heritage shaped by indigenous traditions and waves of European immigration, primarily from Italy and Spain. Its modern history began with independence from Spain in 1816, leading to periods of economic prosperity, political turbulence, and the development of a distinct national identity. The country is globally renowned for the tango, its passionate love of football, and the vast, iconic landscape of the Pampas grasslands.
France
France is a Western European nation with a rich cultural and historical legacy, dating back to ancient times through the Roman era, the rise of the Frankish Empire, and its consolidation as a major global power. It is renowned for its profound influence on art, philosophy, and politics, epitomized by landmarks like the Palace of Versailles and the Eiffel Tower, and for events such as the French Revolution which championed ideals of liberty and democracy. Today, its vibrant culture, world-famous cuisine, and status as a center for fashion and the arts continue to shape its global identity.
England
England is a country within the United Kingdom with a rich history spanning millennia, from Roman settlement to its era as the centre of the vast British Empire. It is renowned for its iconic landmarks, including the royal palaces of London, the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge, and its historic universities at Oxford and Cambridge. The nation has profoundly influenced global culture, language, law, and parliamentary systems.
