The World Cup 2026 draw Photograph: Shawn Thew\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.54 EST<\/p>\n Thomas Tuchel: “Difficult group, difficult opener”<\/p>\n \u201cDifficult group, difficult opener [against Croatia],\u201d says Thomas Tuchel, in an interview with the BBC. \u201cDifficult group with Croatia and Ghana, two regulars in World Cups and two proud and strong nations. Panama, I don\u2019t know much about Panama at the moment but we will find out about it before the tournament starts, of course.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Thomas Tuchel offers his thoughts on a draw that has pitted England against Croatia, Ghana and Panama. Photograph: Michael Regan\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a>The Group of Death …<\/p>\n I\u2019m calling it: Having had time to reflect and ruminate, I\u2019m saying Group I might be the Group of Death, containing as it does France, Senegal, Norway and one of Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The draw for World Cup 2026 Photograph: Chris Carlson\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.16 EST<\/p>\n How the home nations (and Rep of Ireland) fared …<\/p>\n England: Thomas Tuchel\u2019s side will face a rematch of their 2018 semi-final in the opening fixture of their World Cup<\/a> campaign next summer, after they were drawn alongside Croatia in Group L. They will also face Panama and Ghana, writes Paul MacInnes \u2026<\/p>\n Scotland (with added Wales, Northern Ireland and Rep of Ireland): Steve Clarke\u2019s team face a mouthwatering reunion with Brazil in their first World Cup<\/a> campaign since 1998 after being drawn in Group C at Friday\u2019s ceremony. They will also face Morocco and Haiti, writes Nick Ames \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.09 EST<\/p>\n 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\u2019ll really fancy their chances against Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Australia: Tony Popovic\u2019s side have been placed in Group D for next year\u2019s tournament, facing the USA, Paraguay and one of Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo and Romanaia. Joey Lynch reports \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Mauricio Pochettino: ‘All of them are going to be difficult’<\/p>\n 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\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we need to be optimistic,\u201d he said. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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 \u2014 we have a big group of players who really believe they can get a place on the roster for the World Cup<\/a>, 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\u2019s 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Alexi Lalas: USA \u201care going to win the group\u201d<\/p>\n Contrary to Pochettino\u2019s diplomatic take, Alexi Lalas thinks the USA have got an easy group. \u201cMauricio, 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,\u201d he says. \u201cI think you\u2019re not only going to get out of the group. I think you\u2019re going to win the group.\u201d<\/p>\n Hmmm \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a015.02 EST<\/p>\n 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<\/a> campaign after they were drawn alongside Brazil and Morocco, as well as Haiti, in Group C. Paul MacInnes reports \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Scotland kick off against Haiti<\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s Group C opener will be against Haiti in either Massachusetts or New Jersey. They\u2019ll 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\u2019ll need to hit the ground running and HJaiti will feel the same. Good luck to them!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.44 EST<\/p>\n England kick off against Croatia …<\/p>\n While the exact venues and timings of the fixtures will not be revealed until tomorrow, England will begin their 2026 World Cup<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.33 EST<\/p>\n The draw for World Cup 2026<\/p>\n And breathe \u2026 The draw is over and it\u2019s time to digest what we\u2019ve just seen unfold. Here is the draw,, in all it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n The draw for World Cup 2026<\/p>\n Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Euro Playoff D<\/p>\n Group B: Canada, Euro Playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland<\/p>\n Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti<\/p>\n Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Euro Playoff C<\/p>\n Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador<\/p>\n Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Euro Playoff B<\/p>\n Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand<\/p>\n Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, Cape Verde<\/p>\n Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Fifa Playoff 2<\/p>\n Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan<\/p>\n Group K: Portugal, Fifa Playoff 1, Colombia, Uzbekistan,<\/p>\n Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana<\/p>\n Those playoff paths \u2026<\/p>\n Uefa Play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland<\/p>\n Uefa Play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania, Sweden<\/p>\n Uefa Play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania<\/p>\n Uefa Play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Rep of Ireland, N Macedonia<\/p>\n Fifa Play-off 1: DR Congo v Jamaica or New Caledonia<\/p>\n Fifa Play-off 2: Iraq v Bolivia or Suriname<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.30 EST<\/p>\n The Village People\u2019s show-closer: \u201cAnd finally, here\u2019s 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\u2019t: what could be more innocent than a hymn to young men simply enjoying each other\u2019s 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?<\/p>\n And furthermore, nor was the rest of the Village People\u2019s oeuvre, including Macho Man, Hot Cop, Fire Island and I\u2019m 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 \u2013 flashy light show notwithstanding – this performance of it is like something you\u2019d see at some frightful Back To The 70s weekend at Butlins, headlined by a line-up of Mud with no original members in it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n USA! A full 189 days until they open the 2026 World Cup<\/a> in the midsummer heat of Los Angeles, the US men\u2019s national team found out who they\u2019ll face in the world\u2019s most popular sporting event on a cold, snowy day in Washington DC. Alexander Abnos reveals all from the JFK Centre in Washington \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Well, that was confusing …<\/p>\n But we got there in the end \u2026 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 \u2026<\/p>\n At least it\u2019s nearly over. Photograph: Roberto Schmidt\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.18 EST<\/p>\n The World Cup draw in full<\/p>\n Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Euro playoff D<\/p>\n Group B: Canada, Euro playoff A, Qatar, Switzerland<\/p>\n Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland<\/p>\n Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Euro playoff C<\/p>\n Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador<\/p>\n Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Euro playoff B, Tunisia<\/p>\n Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand<\/p>\n Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay<\/p>\n Group I: France, Senegal, Fifa playoff 2, Norway<\/p>\n Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan<\/p>\n Group K: Portugal, Fifa playoff 1, Uzbekistan, Colombia<\/p>\n Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.12 EST<\/p>\n Group B<\/p>\n Canada, Qatar, Switzerland, Uefa Play-off A (potentially Wales or Northern Ireland)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Group A<\/p>\n Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Uefa Play-off D (potentially Republic of Ireland)<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England get Croatia, Ghana and Panama …<\/p>\n I repeat: Group L is England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama.<\/p>\n England will once again face Panama in the group stages, a repeat of their game from 2018. Photograph: Jean Catuffe\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a014.14 EST<\/p>\n Scotland will play Haiti first …<\/p>\n Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Some housekeeping: Some of these groups are out of order and not necessarily being drawn in order of pot-by-pot seeding because \u2026 rules and \u201ccomputer says no\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England get Panama, Norway in with France and Senegal<\/p>\n Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea<\/p>\n Group B: Canada, Qatar, Switzerland,<\/p>\n Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland<\/p>\n Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia,<\/p>\n Group E: Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador<\/p>\n Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia<\/p>\n Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran<\/p>\n Group H: Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay,<\/p>\n Group I: France, Senegal, Norway<\/p>\n Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria<\/p>\n Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan<\/p>\n Group L: England, Croatia, Panama<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.56 EST<\/p>\n Scotland get Brazil!!!!<\/p>\n Wow! They join Brazil and Morocco in Group C.<\/p>\n Welcome back, Scotland. Photograph: Lutz Bongarts\/Bongarts\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.53 EST<\/p>\n Mexico v South Africa: This will be the first game of the World Cup<\/a> on 11 June in Mexico City.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England: The vagaries, rules and regs of the draw now mean England cannot be in the same group as Scotland or Norway. It\u2019s time for another montage \u2026<\/p>\n Photograph: Ints Kalni\u0146\u0161\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.47 EST<\/p>\n England get Croatia, USA will face Australia …<\/p>\n Group A: Mexico, South Korea,<\/p>\n Group B: Canada, Switzerland<\/p>\n Group C: Brazil, Morocco<\/p>\n Group D: USA, Australia<\/p>\n Group E: Germany, Ecuador<\/p>\n Group F: Netherlands, Japan<\/p>\n Group G: Belgium, Iran<\/p>\n Group H: Spain, Uruguay<\/p>\n Group I: France, Senegal<\/p>\n Group J: Argentina, Austria<\/p>\n Group K: Portugal, Colombia<\/p>\n Group L: England, Croatia<\/p>\n England will play Croatia in their first match of World Cup 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n England will face Croatia in a repeat of the 2018 semi-final. Photograph: Tom Jenkins\/The GuardianShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.50 EST<\/p>\n A montage, sir. It\u2019s the teams from Group B.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England go into Group L as pots set up<\/p>\n Group A: Mexico,<\/p>\n Group B: Canada,<\/p>\n Group C: Brazil,<\/p>\n Group D: USA,<\/p>\n Group E: Germany,<\/p>\n Group F: Netherlands,<\/p>\n Group G: Belgium,<\/p>\n Group H: Spain,<\/p>\n Group I: France,<\/p>\n Group J: Argentina,<\/p>\n Group K: Portugal,<\/p>\n Group L: England<\/p>\n Tom Brady puts England in Brazil\u2019s quarter of the draw and they will play their first game on 17 June in Dallas or Toronto. If they win their group, they\u2019ll play a third-placed team in the Round of 32.<\/p>\n Tom Brady draws England into Group L. Photograph: Mandel Ngan\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.41 EST<\/p>\n The draw thus far \u2026 <\/p>\n Group A: Mexico<\/p>\n Group B: Canada<\/p>\n Group C:<\/p>\n Group D: USA<\/p>\n Group E:<\/p>\n Group F:<\/p>\n Group G:<\/p>\n Group H:<\/p>\n Group I:<\/p>\n Group J:<\/p>\n Group K:<\/p>\n Group L:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cAs a paid up plastic Scouser, it\u2019s not often I feel for Rio Ferdinand, but this is beyond cringing,\u201d writes John Davies, as we cut to a montage of the teams in Pot 1.<\/p>\n They are: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.<\/p>\n The lucky guests at the Kennedy Center are loving every second of this. Photograph: Pedro Ugarte\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.29 EST<\/p>\n Rio Ferdinand and Samantha Johnson take the floor \u2026 Well, not quite. First, Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum introduce tonight\u2019s draw assistants: Baseball\u2019s Aaron Judge, basketball\u2019s Shaquille O\u2019Neal and the NFL\u2019s Tom Brady. The sight of Shaquille O\u2019Neal standing next to Kevin Hart is worth the price of admission alone.<\/p>\n You love to see it. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.27 EST<\/p>\n The rules: By way of explaining the extremely complex and convoluted rules of the draw to the TV audience, we\u2019re 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\u2019re nearly there \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Time for a World Cup<\/a> wind-up: We move to VT of a \u201chumorous\u201dphone 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.<\/p>\n We then see Rio getting advice from \u201cFifa ambassadors\u201d Matthew \u201cMumbles\u201d McConaughey and Salma Hayek, before he is introduced to the stage and tells Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum to stop using the word \u201csoccer\u201d. This is absolutely top-tier Fifa-approved banter.<\/p>\n The Archbishop of Banterbury is here! Photograph: Patrick Smith\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a013.21 EST<\/p>\n The official Petridis verdict on Lauryn Hill\u2019s medley is in: Watching her high energy, faintly chaotic set, you have to feel a bit for Lauryn Hill \u2013 she\u2019s up there nearly herniating herself trying to get some response from the audience and they\u2019re 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\u2019s wondering why she turned up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Lauryn Hill rap medley ends: \u201cThat was unbelievable,\u201d says Danny Ramirez and he\u2019s not wrong. Mixing it in the audience, he introduces the former USA international and two-times Women\u2019s World Cup<\/a> winner Carli Lloyd. \u201cThis is going to be amazing, it\u2019s going to be exciting,\u201d she says of next summer\u2019s jamboree.<\/p>\n![\"Alexis](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Alexis_Petridis,_L.png\")
Alexis Petridis<\/p>\nAlexis Petridis<\/p>\n