The 2026 World Cup Draw: What's New and What's Not
The 2026 World Cup is shaping up to be quite different from previous tournaments. FIFA has introduced some new rules that could shake things up.
Key Changes
Top Teams Separated: The top two teams, Spain and Argentina, won't be able to face each other until the final. They will be placed in different halves of the knockout bracket to ensure the best teams don't meet too early.
Co-Hosts' Schedule Decided: The order of games for the co-hosts, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has already been decided. The U.S. will play their first game against a team from Pot 3, their second against a team from Pot 2, and their last group game against a team from Pot 4. This means they will know exactly when they will face their easiest and hardest opponents.
Team Pots: The teams are divided into four pots based on their FIFA rankings. The top-ranked teams are in Pot 1, and the lowest-ranked teams are in Pot 4. However, the six playoff winners, who will be determined in March, will all be placed in Pot 4. This could make some groups much harder than others.
Draw Details: The draw will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. After the draw, FIFA will release the full schedule, including which stadium each match will be played in and the kickoff times.
Confederation Rule: The rule that no two teams from the same confederation can be in the same group, except for Europe, remains unchanged. This is to ensure a good mix of teams from different regions.
Impact of Changes
The new rules could make the tournament more exciting, but they could also be confusing for some viewers. It will be interesting to see how these changes play out on the field.
