2026 World Cup draw

[Fauxstralian]

Draw from the Kennedy Center in Washington on Friday from 5pm
The Kennedy Center is the venue Donald Trump has taken control of which is sinking badly
Entertainment by the Village People and Robbie WilliamsPot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, GermanyPot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, AustraliaPot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South AfricaPot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2The draw will begin with all the teams from pot 1 being drawn to groups A to L. It will then continue with pots 2, 3 and 4 in that order.

The FIFA fixFor pot 1, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as the host countries, will be identified by different coloured balls and, when drawn, will be assigned to position A1 for Mexico (green ball), B1 for Canada (red ball) and D1 for the USA (blue ball), as already established per the match schedule released on 4 February 2024. The remaining nine top-ranked teams in pot 1 will be identified by nine balls of the same colour and automatically allocated to position 1 of the group into which they are drawn.To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semi-finals have been established when developing the match schedule. In order to have a balanced distribution of the teams, the four highest-ranked teams in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s Ranking, when drawn, will have the following constraints: the highest-ranked team (Spain) and the second highest-ranked team (Argentina) will be randomly drawn into opposite pathways, and the same principle will apply to the third (France) and fourth (England) highest-ranked teams. This will ensure that, should they win their groups, the two highest-ranked teams will not meet before the final.

[El Scorchio]

Brazil probably a little bit like Portugal- not quite the best on paper, but capable of anything on their day. Dangerous.

Actually, it's a good point about the heat particularly in the Southern states or Mexico although some of the US stadiums have roofs which may get closed if it's baking. It could work against England and the other Northern/Western European sides seen as most of the matches I am sure will be played 1pm or 4pm US time, if they can, to fit in with the time difference and still make it a watchable time. It's an advantage to the South American sides and maybe Spain and Portugal. However in the latter stages all the games should be in the evening local time so it might not be a huge factor come crunch time. A middling/decent nation used to the heat could be dangerous in the group stages if it's an early kick off. You'd hope though that they'll be doing a lot of hot weather conditioning as part of the build up.

[Fauxstralian]

How are Brazil these days?
Youd have to consider them & Argentina plus from Europe Spain, France & Portugal
England definitely have the players to be in the mix but unlike the teams above may struggle in the heat if it’s anything like that Club World Cup conditions 
Dont imagine tv will allow sensible late night kick offs 

Perhaps Englands kit could incorporate a knotted handkerchief to go on the players bonces?

[Mad Ferret]

We'll rightly be among the favourites.

I think we've moved on from 'not having the minerals' to win tournaments these days. We've lost the last 2 Euros finals because the manager was tactically inept but won some big games on the way to the latter stages of tournaments.

[El Scorchio]

It does depend on the draw but I don't know if there's anyone to truly worry about aside from Spain, France and Argentina or possibly the bogey team Portugal. We can mix it with anyone.

The talent on the pitch, barring injuries, to go all the way is clearly there with a question mark over depth at striker and centre back. For me it's all down to attitude and tactics and honestly luck as to how far England go. We aren't mentally strong like the Germans who belie their actual talent at times to win with their attitude, and we don't play shithousery well or smartly, which we will certainly get as a leveller against a Portugal or a South American side. We need to be smart and wise to it, but also impose our will on matches and be aggressive rather than being passive and defensive like under Southgate. That only gets you so far. I think Tuchel can help with that and the attitude/resolve.

Luck will always play a part to get you over the line as well especially in the knockout stages when it gets very tight. Argentina got pretty lucky to even get to the final last time. France got pretty lucky against us. We will need to be lucky- we had a fair amount in 2024 while not really playing well at all TBH (late winners or equalisers and penalties) but not enough to get over the line in the final.

I've got a strange feeling we'll win it. 

[RBshorty]

Quarter finalist at best. Semi if we have a Southgate luck draw. Tommy Two Sheds will find out we don’t have the minerals to see it through. The PR is better and easier for the suits that run the game here. At least we get 6 months of the sweatys happily make themselves look foolish.?

England. Quarter’s
Peolple’s Republic of Jockicstan. Group stage.
Winners. Donkey Throwers.

[El Scorchio]

The last World Cup draw was conducted by Jermaine Jenas - what a fall from grace
.

Ironically he'd be right at home amongst that lot presiding over it.

[the coming of gary]

The last World Cup draw was conducted by Jermaine Jenas - what a fall from grace
.

[Far Cough UKunt]

"orange combover idiot"  

ag ag ag

[El Scorchio]

Wonder how much the orange combover idiot is going to make it all about himself rather than anything else.