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And that is that for today’s fever dream: We had a quite surreal and apparently interminable prelude of faffery that began with Andrea Bocelli singing Nessun Dorma before proceedings went quickly downhill. Before the draw that got underway, the ever obsequious Gianni Infantino presented Donald Trump with the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize, Robbie Williams and Nicole Sherzinger walked off stage to the sound of their own feet after performing a power ballad, and Lauryn Hill and her children fared no better as they rapped to a great Fifa wall of indifference.
Taking over from hosts Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, Rio Ferdinand and Samantha Johnson did a decent job of hosting an astonishingly complicated World Cup draw, ably assisted by sporting legends Wayne Gretzky, Tom Brady, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal, before the evening drew to a conclusion with Donald Trump and assorted dignitaries shaking their collective booty to a live performance of YMCA by the Village People. Anyway, thanks for your time, here once again is the draw and I can’t be the only one who needs a stiff drink after that weirdness. Bottoms up!
The World Cup 2026 draw Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPAShare
Updated at 15.54 EST
Thomas Tuchel: “Difficult group, difficult opener”
“Difficult group, difficult opener [against Croatia],” says Thomas Tuchel, in an interview with the BBC. “Difficult group with Croatia and Ghana, two regulars in World Cups and two proud and strong nations. Panama, I don’t know much about Panama at the moment but we will find out about it before the tournament starts, of course.
“For me, I’m only experienced group football in Champions League formats and the way to approach it was to always give it the biggest respect and to put all the focus into winning the group. It always seems difficult like our group now but we are confident and we will be well prepared when we arrive.”
Thomas Tuchel offers his thoughts on a draw that has pitted England against Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Photograph: Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty ImagesShareThe Group of Death …
I’m calling it: Having had time to reflect and ruminate, I’m saying Group I might be the Group of Death, containing as it does France, Senegal, Norway and one of Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname.
ShareThe draw for World Cup 2026 Photograph: Chris Carlson/APShare
Updated at 15.16 EST
How the home nations (and Rep of Ireland) fared …
England: Thomas Tuchel’s side will face a rematch of their 2018 semi-final in the opening fixture of their World Cup campaign next summer, after they were drawn alongside Croatia in Group L. They will also face Panama and Ghana, writes Paul MacInnes …
Scotland (with added Wales, Northern Ireland and Rep of Ireland): Steve Clarke’s team face a mouthwatering reunion with Brazil in their first World Cup campaign since 1998 after being drawn in Group C at Friday’s ceremony. They will also face Morocco and Haiti, writes Nick Ames …
Updated at 15.09 EST
Wales and Northern Ireland: While there is no obvious Group of Death in this new-fangled 48-team tournament, Group B is shaping up to be quite the Group of Life. If Wales or Northern Ireland can qualify out of Uefa pathway A (which also contains Italy and Bosnia and Herzogovina), they’ll really fancy their chances against Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Australia: Tony Popovic’s side have been placed in Group D for next year’s tournament, facing the USA, Paraguay and one of Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo and Romanaia. Joey Lynch reports …
ShareMauricio Pochettino: ‘All of them are going to be difficult’
Team USA: Having seen his team drawn in Group D with Paraguay, Australia and one of Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo and Romanaia, the USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been chatting to Alexi Lalas on Fox. My thanks to Bryan Armen Graham who watched it so that I didn’t have to.
“I think we need to be optimistic,” he said. “We need to keep pushing, keep evolving. But at the moment, what we can say is only to analyze the teams and see what is going on in a few months.”
“I think we need to respect all the opponents. All of them are going to be difficult, and we know that very well. Paraguay were doing so well in qualification in South America. Australia, until we played them in Denver, were unbeaten for 12 or 13 games. And of course we are going to see which is the other team that is going to join us. But I think it’s full respect, yes, but also believing that we can go through. We need to perform. We need to evolve and be better every time we are together.”
“The key is going to be to keep the momentum and keep pushing. I think the belief of the team is there now. We are not a small group — we have a big group of players who really believe they can get a place on the roster for the World Cup, and I think that is important. That is the mindset for us. We need to evolve. That is the message for me. We are starting to show things that are good, but it’s still not the finished product. We need to improve a lot in different areas, but the momentum is good and we need to keep pushing and be positive.”
Alexi Lalas: USA “are going to win the group”
Contrary to Pochettino’s diplomatic take, Alexi Lalas thinks the USA have got an easy group. “Mauricio, I know you have to be respectful of the teams and everything, but when I look at the group, it would be an absolute disaster for the US not to get out of this group,” he says. “I think you’re not only going to get out of the group. I think you’re going to win the group.”
Hmmm …
Updated at 15.02 EST
World Cup draw: England will face a rematch of their 2018 semi-final in the opening fixture of their World campaign next summer, after they were drawn alongside Croatia in Group L, while Scotland will also face a partial repeat of their last World Cup campaign after they were drawn alongside Brazil and Morocco, as well as Haiti, in Group C. Paul MacInnes reports …
ShareScotland kick off against Haiti
Scotland’s Group C opener will be against Haiti in either Massachusetts or New Jersey. They’ll play Morocco in their second group game and Brazil in their third. While there is no obvious group of death in this tournament, the Scots have found themselves in a fairtly tough one. One suspects they’ll need to hit the ground running and HJaiti will feel the same. Good luck to them!
Updated at 14.44 EST
England kick off against Croatia …
While the exact venues and timings of the fixtures will not be revealed until tomorrow, England will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia in either Dallas or Toronto on 17 June. Their second Group L match will be against Ghana and their third against Panama.
Updated at 14.33 EST
The draw for World Cup 2026
And breathe … The draw is over and it’s time to digest what we’ve just seen unfold. Here is the draw,, in all it’s glory. Bear in mind that the Republic. of Ireland could end up in Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea, while Wales or Northern Ireland could end up in Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
The draw for World Cup 2026
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Euro Playoff D
Group B: Canada, Euro Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Euro Playoff C
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Euro Playoff B
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Fifa Playoff 2
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Fifa Playoff 1, Colombia, Uzbekistan,
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
Those playoff paths …
Uefa Play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland
Uefa Play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania, Sweden
Uefa Play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania
Uefa Play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Rep of Ireland, N Macedonia
Fifa Play-off 1: DR Congo v Jamaica or New Caledonia
Fifa Play-off 2: Iraq v Bolivia or Suriname
Updated at 14.30 EST
Alexis Petridis
The Village People’s show-closer: “And finally, here’s the Village People, a band one is minded to tread carefully around these days, their singer Victor Willis having threated to sue anyone who suggests their song YMCA is a gay anthem. Clearly it isn’t: what could be more innocent than a hymn to young men simply enjoying each other’s company, doing whatever they feel and hanging out with all the boys, unencumbered by the distracting presence of women; the fact that YMCAs were so notorious as cruising spots there are literally academic books devoted to the subject being entirely coincidental?
And furthermore, nor was the rest of the Village People’s oeuvre, including Macho Man, Hot Cop, Fire Island and I’m A Cruiser. Let us pause for a moment and consider how terribly frustrating it must have been for the Village People to have their work so consistently, inexplicably and cruelly misinterpreted. Then let us move on and note that – flashy light show notwithstanding – this performance of it is like something you’d see at some frightful Back To The 70s weekend at Butlins, headlined by a line-up of Mud with no original members in it.
USA! A full 189 days until they open the 2026 World Cup in the midsummer heat of Los Angeles, the US men’s national team found out who they’ll face in the world’s most popular sporting event on a cold, snowy day in Washington DC. Alexander Abnos reveals all from the JFK Centre in Washington …
ShareWell, that was confusing …
But we got there in the end … And I have to say that Rio Ferdinand did a surprisingly splendid job explaining all the various permutations from the stage when it was abundantly clear that nobody around him had a clue what was going on. Cue: The Village PEople singing YMCA …
At least it’s nearly over. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 14.18 EST
The World Cup draw in full
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Euro playoff D
Group B: Canada, Euro playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Euro playoff C
Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Euro playoff B, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Fifa playoff 2, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Fifa playoff 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
Updated at 14.12 EST
Group B
Canada, Qatar, Switzerland, Uefa Play-off A (potentially Wales or Northern Ireland)
ShareGroup A
Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Uefa Play-off D (potentially Republic of Ireland)
ShareEngland get Croatia, Ghana and Panama …
I repeat: Group L is England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama.
England will once again face Panama in the group stages, a repeat of their game from 2018. Photograph: Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 14.14 EST
Scotland will play Haiti first …
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.
Some housekeeping: Some of these groups are out of order and not necessarily being drawn in order of pot-by-pot seeding because … rules and “computer says no”.
ShareEngland get Panama, Norway in with France and Senegal
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea
Group B: Canada, Qatar, Switzerland,
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia,
Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran
Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay,
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama
Updated at 13.56 EST
Scotland get Brazil!!!!
Wow! They join Brazil and Morocco in Group C.
Welcome back, Scotland. Photograph: Lutz Bongarts/Bongarts/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 13.53 EST
Mexico v South Africa: This will be the first game of the World Cup on 11 June in Mexico City.
England: The vagaries, rules and regs of the draw now mean England cannot be in the same group as Scotland or Norway. It’s time for another montage …
Photograph: Ints Kalniņš/ReutersShare
Updated at 13.47 EST
England get Croatia, USA will face Australia …
Group A: Mexico, South Korea,
Group B: Canada, Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco
Group D: USA, Australia
Group E: Germany, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan
Group G: Belgium, Iran
Group H: Spain, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal
Group J: Argentina, Austria
Group K: Portugal, Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia
England will play Croatia in their first match of World Cup 2026.
England will face Croatia in a repeat of the 2018 semi-final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare
Updated at 13.50 EST
A montage, sir. It’s the teams from Group B.
ShareEngland go into Group L as pots set up
Group A: Mexico,
Group B: Canada,
Group C: Brazil,
Group D: USA,
Group E: Germany,
Group F: Netherlands,
Group G: Belgium,
Group H: Spain,
Group I: France,
Group J: Argentina,
Group K: Portugal,
Group L: England
Tom Brady puts England in Brazil’s quarter of the draw and they will play their first game on 17 June in Dallas or Toronto. If they win their group, they’ll play a third-placed team in the Round of 32.
Tom Brady draws England into Group L. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/ReutersShare
Updated at 13.41 EST
The draw thus far …
Group A: Mexico
Group B: Canada
Group C:
Group D: USA
Group E:
Group F:
Group G:
Group H:
Group I:
Group J:
Group K:
Group L:
“As a paid up plastic Scouser, it’s not often I feel for Rio Ferdinand, but this is beyond cringing,” writes John Davies, as we cut to a montage of the teams in Pot 1.
They are: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.
The lucky guests at the Kennedy Center are loving every second of this. Photograph: Pedro Ugarte/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 13.29 EST
Rio Ferdinand and Samantha Johnson take the floor … Well, not quite. First, Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum introduce tonight’s draw assistants: Baseball’s Aaron Judge, basketball’s Shaquille O’Neal and the NFL’s Tom Brady. The sight of Shaquille O’Neal standing next to Kevin Hart is worth the price of admission alone.
You love to see it. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/APShare
Updated at 13.27 EST
The rules: By way of explaining the extremely complex and convoluted rules of the draw to the TV audience, we’re shown some VT of a couple of stage school brats children playing the role of schoolchildren explaining them to a bewildered Rio. Honestly, bear with me because we’re nearly there …
Time for a World Cup wind-up: We move to VT of a “humorous”phone call between Gianni Infantino and Rio Ferdinand, with the screen splitting between the former telling the latter not to worry about the complexities of hosting the business end of the draw and the subsequent reaction shots from our hapless hero.
We then see Rio getting advice from “Fifa ambassadors” Matthew “Mumbles” McConaughey and Salma Hayek, before he is introduced to the stage and tells Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum to stop using the word “soccer”. This is absolutely top-tier Fifa-approved banter.
The Archbishop of Banterbury is here! Photograph: Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 13.21 EST
Alexis Petridis
The official Petridis verdict on Lauryn Hill’s medley is in: Watching her high energy, faintly chaotic set, you have to feel a bit for Lauryn Hill – she’s up there nearly herniating herself trying to get some response from the audience and they’re doing absolutely nothing. Medley of hits, including no-further-questions floorfiller Doo Wop (That Thing)? Nope. Bringing her kids onstage to honour the memory of Bob Marley? Crickets. I suspect she’s wondering why she turned up.
The Lauryn Hill rap medley ends: “That was unbelievable,” says Danny Ramirez and he’s not wrong. Mixing it in the audience, he introduces the former USA international and two-times Women’s World Cup winner Carli Lloyd. “This is going to be amazing, it’s going to be exciting,” she says of next summer’s jamboree.
Another musical interlude: Lauryn Hill is rocking the mic and introduces a young rapper I believe to be her son, John Nesta Marley. “How ya’ll feeling!?!?!” he asks the crowd … twice, a request that is greeted by almost total indifference and complete silence. This is toe-curling cringe but they’re soldiering on.
Oh, Lauryn Hill. Photograph: Jia Haocheng/ReutersShare
Updated at 13.11 EST