England start World Cup against Croatia, Scotland to face Brazil

England will launch their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia, while Scotland has been drawn alongside Brazil in next year's tournament. England will begin their tournament in Dallas or Toronto on Wednesday, June 17th, before taking on Ghana and Panama in Group L. On Saturday, or New York, Scotland's first match at the men's World Cup for 28 years will be against Haiti, followed by matches against Morocco and Brazil in Group C. If either Wales or Northern Ireland make it through two rounds of Uefa play-off matches in March, Wales or northern Ireland will join Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B. If they qualify, the Republic of Ireland could visit Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea. Between 11 June and 19 July 2026, the first-ever 48-team World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

World Cup 2026 draw in full

*Uefa play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, or Northern Ireland *Udo play-down B: Ukraine, Poland, Kosovo, Albania, or Sweden *Ufa Play-off B: B: This is a playoff, not a competition in the United Kingdom. England will face Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June in Toronto or Boston, or New York, in their final group game against Panama on Saturday, June 27th in Philadelphia or New Jersey, after their opener against Croatia, six days after the tournament has began - six days before the tournament gets underway. Following their first men's World Cup match since 1998 against Haiti, Scotland will face Morocco on Friday, 19 June in Boston or Philadelphia, while Brazil's meeting with Brazil will take place in Atlanta or Miami on Wednesday, 24 June 24. In the first match of the expanded tournament, Mexico will face South Africa at Estadio Azteca, the two nations will face 104 players in 16 cities. The top four nations in the Fifa world rankings have been given special seedings, ensuring they do not meet until the semi-finals if each team wins their respective regions. In the quarter-finals, England, the Euro 2024 runners-up, may meet the winner of Brazil's group. If the Three Lions win Group L, they will face one of the eight best-performing third-placed teams in the first round of knockout matches. Scotland will face Fifa's fifth and 11th best-ranked nations in Brazil, who will face Morocco for the fifth time at a World Cup - and Morocco in their quest to reach the knockout stage. At next year's tournament, there will be 12 teams of four teams. The groups were selected from four pots, into which teams had been placed based on their position in Fifa's rankings. Both the top two teams in each division and the eight best third-placed teams will qualify for the knockout stages.

England verdict: 'Difficult group, difficult opener'

England head coach Tuchel oversaw a flawless World Cup qualifying campaign, his team won all their eight matches without conceding a single point. The German said of the draw: Difficult group, difficult opener, he said in a BBC Sport interview after the draw. Two regulars in World Cups, Croatia and Ghana [are] two regulars, as well as two proud and wealthy nations. Panama is not sure what you're looking for right now, but we will be able to predict the tournament before it starts.

I've only seen group football in Champions League formats and the way to approach it was to treat it with the greatest reverence and put all the attention into winning the tournament. It always seems daunting, as our company now is, but we are positive and we will be well prepared when we land. Croatia was the highest-ranked country in the 2018 World Cup, and they were the team England lost to in the semi-finals. England defeated Panama 6-1 in the group stage of the same tournament.

Nobody should be underestimated. Of course, Croatia is the standout country, but Ghana is always full of talent, can always surprise, and has a long tradition in World Cup football,Tuchel said.Panama will try to make the most of their underdog role. No one should be underestimated; everyone is entitled to the highest regard.

Scotland verdict: 'We'll bring a little bit of magic'

Scotland defeated Denmark with two stoppage-time goals in a thrilling winner-takes-all final group game last month. They will visit two of the countries they faced at France 98 in Brazil and Morocco, as well as the less well-known number of Haiti nearly three decades since their most recent men's World Cup appearances. The draw is amazing, Scotland boss Steve Clarke told BBC Sport:

It's fantastic. No European teams, so we're playing three top sides from three continents around the world, and that's what the World Cup is about. Clarke said,

We're going to bring a little bit of magic as well as beating record five-time champions Brazil. "It's great to play them. That's a little bit of fate, dating back to 1998, when Brazil and Morocco were in the group.

A World Cup of '104 Super Bowls'

During a star-studded draw ceremony in Washington, DC, US President Donald Trump was honoured with the new Fifa Peace Prize. Fifa president Gianni Infantino awarded the award, which was given to honor an individual's contributions to peace and unity, was

one of the greatest honors of my life. The 2026 World Cup for American viewers, according to Fifa president Infantino, is equivalent to watching

104 Super Bowls in one month. The evening was hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, model Heidi Klum, and actor Danny Ramirez, as well as live music performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and Lauryn Hill. Rio Ferdinand, a former England and Manchester United player, was accompanied by American sporting legends Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal, as well as Canadian ice hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Mexico, Canada, and the United States had pre-determined group positions to ensure that they would play all group matches in their respective nations. However, Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum all drew their own nation's ball to begin negotiations.