2026 World Cup draw: Top seeds set in latest FIFA rankings
ZURICH, Switzerland – FIFA confirmed the top-seeded nations for the 2026 World Cup draw on Wednesday after releasing its latest men’s rankings, finalizing the allocation of teams ahead of the Dec. 5 ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Spain, Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany join co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico as the top seeds. The updated rankings follow the conclusion of qualifying matches across four confederations on Tuesday.
Croatia — runners-up in 2018 and semifinalists in 2022 — were narrowly pushed into Pot 2, marking the biggest shift among leading nations ahead of a draw that will be attended by U.S. President Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center.
The latest rankings also set the seedings for Thursday’s draw that will determine the playoff brackets scheduled for March. Those matchups will decide the final six places in the expanded 48-team tournament.
A total of 22 nations enter the playoffs, including 16 from Europe fighting for four qualification spots and six from other regions competing for two intercontinental berths. Italy headline the European playoffs as the four-time world champions attempt to avoid missing a third straight World Cup after finishing second behind Norway in their qualifying group.
Italy, ranked 12th, will be drawn at home against a Pot 4 opponent — a group that includes North Macedonia, the team that eliminated them in the 2022 playoff. Should they advance, Italy would face the winner of the Pot 2 vs. Pot 3 pairing on March 31, with home advantage for the single-leg final also decided in Thursday’s draw.
The four eventual winners from Europe are expected to enter the World Cup draw from Pot 4, reflecting their lower rankings. Meanwhile, in the intercontinental playoffs, top-seeded Iraq and Congo await the winners of semifinal ties involving Bolivia, Jamaica, Suriname and New Caledonia.
The draw will finalize the global field for what will be the largest World Cup in history, with FIFA’s expanded format set to showcase 48 teams across the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.