England start World Cup against Croatia, Scotland to face Brazil

England will begin their World Cup 2026 campaign against Croatia, while Scotland have been drawn alongside Brazil at next summer’s tournament.

Thomas Tuchel’s England will open their tournament in Dallas or Toronto on Wednesday, 17 June, before also facing Ghana and Panama in Group L.

Scotland’s first match at the men’s World Cup for 28 years will be against Haiti on Saturday, 13 June, in Boston or New York, followed by matches against Morocco and Brazil in Group C.

Wales or Northern Ireland would join Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B, should either come through two rounds of Uefa play-off matches in March.

The Republic of Ireland could meet Mexico, South Africa and South Korea if they qualify.

The first-ever 48-team World Cup will be held in Canada, Mexico and the United States between 11 June and 19 July 2026.

• Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner of Uefa play-off D*

• Group B: Canada, Winner of Uefa play-off A*, Qatar, Switzerland

• Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

• Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of Uefa play-off C*

• Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

• Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Winner of Uefa play-off B*, Tunisia

• Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

• Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay

• Group I: France, Senegal, Winner of Fifa play-off 2*, Norway

• Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

• Group K: Portugal, Winner of Fifa play-off 1*, Uzbekistan, Colombia

• Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama

*Uefa play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina or Northern Ireland

*Uefa play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania or Sweden

*Uefa play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo or Romania

*Uefa play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland or North Macedonia

*Fifa play-off 1: DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia

*Fifa play-off 2: Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname

Where and when each nation will play their matches will be confirmed in a separate draw on Saturday at 17:00 GMT, but there is some certainty at this stage.

After their opener against Croatia, England will play Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June in Toronto or Boston, before their final group game takes place against Panama on Saturday, 27 June in Philadelphia or New York.

Following Haiti, Scotland face Morocco on Friday, 19 June in Boston or Philadelphia, while their meeting with Brazil takes place on Wednesday, 24 June in Atlanta or Miami.

Mexico will take on South Africa at Estadio Azteca in the opening match of the expanded tournament, which will involve 104 matches taking place across 16 cities.

In a major change to the draw, the top four nations in the Fifa world rankings – Spain, Argentina, France and England – have been awarded special seedings which ensure they cannot meet until the semi-finals, assuming each wins their group.

England, who achieved a flawless qualifying campaign with eight straight wins, could meet the winner of Brazil’s group in the quarter-finals.

If they win their group, the Three Lions will face one of the eight best-performing third-placed sides in the first round of knockout matches.

Drawn from pot three, Scotland must face Fifa’s fifth and 11th best-ranked nations in Brazil and Morocco as they look to reach the knockout stage at their first men’s World Cup since 1998.

US President Donald Trump was awarded the new Fifa Peace Prize during a star-studded draw ceremony which lasted for more than two hours.

Speaking at the event in Washington DC, Fifa president Gianni Infantino described the tournament for American viewers as equivalent to watching “104 Super Bowls in one month”.

Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States had pre-determined positions to ensure they will contest all of their group matches in their own countries.

Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum each drew their own nation’s ball to begin proceedings.

There will be 12 groups of four teams at next summer’s tournament. The groups were drawn from four pots, into which teams had been placed based on their standing in Fifa’s rankings.

The top two teams in each group will qualify for the knockout stages, along with the eight best-placed third-ranked sides.