US EditionWorld Cup 2026: Fifa to Keep Top Seeds Apart in Draw
FIFA's new tennis-style seeding will keep top-ranked teams apart in knockout stages, with the draw lasting about 45 minutes and predetermined group positions speeding the process.
- On December 5, 2025 the World Cup group-stage draw will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at noon ET, placing 48 teams into four pots and 12 groups with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump attending.
- FIFA introduced a tennis-style seeding system for the knockout phase this year, placing seeded countries in position one with a pre-determined allocation grid to reward higher-ranked teams.
- Pot compositions list the top seeds, including co-hosts and nine top-ranked teams, followed by the next 12, then the next dozen teams, and lower-ranked qualifiers plus playoff winners in Pot 4.
- Kick-Off times and stadium allocations will be released on December 6, and FIFA says the televised draw will last 45–50 minutes within a longer show.
- The seeding ensures top-ranked teams occupy separate knockout pathways, with Spain and Argentina placed opposite, France and England separated, and playoff winners assigned groups before March qualifiers end.
42 Articles
42 Articles
2026 World Cup draw can separate top-ranked Spain, Argentina, France and England until semifinals
GENEVA (AP) — The 2026 World Cup draw next week will reward the four highest-ranked teams — Spain, Argentina, France and England — who will be placed in separate sections of a new tennis-style seeded tournament bracket. FIFA said Tuesday the top four teams in the latest men's rankings will, if they finish top of their respective [...]
By GRAHAM DUNBAR GENEVA (AP) — The 2026 World Cup draw next week will reward the top four teams —Spain, Argentina, France and England — who will be located in separate sections of a new tournament box with tennis-style serial heads. FIFA said Tuesday that the top four teams in the last men’s ranking, if they end up at the top of their respective groups of all against all, will avoid facing up to the semifinals of the tournament to be held from J…
2026 World Cup draw can separate top-ranked Spain, Argentina, France and England until semifinals
GENEVA (AP) — The 2026 World Cup draw next week will reward the four highest-ranked teams — Spain, Argentina, France and England — who will be placed in separate sections
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