2026 World Cup draw: England and Scotland learn group stage opponents for tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico | Football News

England have been drawn in a group with Croatia, Panama and Ghana at the 2026 World Cup, while Scotland will face five-time winners Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.

In a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, England begin their Group L campaign against Croatia on Wednesday June 17, in Dallas or Toronto.

Thomas Tuchel’s side then face Ghana on Tuesday June 23, in Toronto or Boston, with their final group game on Saturday June 27, against Panama – a team they also faced at the 2018 World Cup.

Scotland have been handed a nostalgic return to the World Cup as they face Brazil and Morocco in Group C – two teams they faced on their last appearance at the tournament in 1998.

Steve Clarke’s side open their campaign against Haiti on Saturday June 13 in Boston or New Jersey-New York.

Scotland then take on 2022 semi-finalists Morocco on Friday June 19, in Boston or Philadelphia, with their final group game against Brazil on Wednesday, June 24 in Atlanta or Miami.

The venues and kick-off times will be announced on Saturday, December 6 at 5pm UK time, when FIFA will unveil the full match schedule.

There could be one more home nation at next summer’s tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico, with Wales and Northern Ireland aiming to come through the UEFA play-offs in March.

Wales or Northern Ireland would be in Group B with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.

The Republic of Ireland can also qualify for the 2026 World Cup through the play-offs and could face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A.

Next year’s tournament will be the biggest World Cup ever, with 48 nations taking part – an expansion from 32 – across 104 matches, with 16 cities hosting games.

The tournament opens with co-hosts Mexico against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11. It is a repeat of the 2010 World Cup opener as then-hosts South Africa claimed a 1-1 draw.

The 2026 World Cup final will be on July 19 at the New York-New Jersey (MetLife) Stadium.

World Cup draw in full

Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Republic of Ireland/Denmark/North Macedonia/Czech Republic

Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Wales/Northern Ireland/Italy/Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti

Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Turkey/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo

Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Poland/Ukraine/Sweden/Albania

Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand

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

Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq or Bolivia/Suriname

Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, DR Congo or Jamaica/New Caledonia

Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana

Tuchel wary of ‘difficult’ group

England already knew before a single ball was drawn that they would benefit from a new Wimbledon-style seeding system introduced by FIFA, which will keep them apart from Spain and Argentina until the semis and from France until the final if all four countries win their respective groups.

If England win their group, they will face a third-place team in Atlanta in the round of 32 on July 1.

Three Lions boss Tuchel, however, must navigate a Group L he is wary of.

“Difficult group, difficult opener,” he told BBC Sport.

“Difficult group with Croatia and Ghana, two regulars in World Cups and two proud and strong nations.

“Panama, I don’t know much about Panama at the moment but we will find out about it before the tournament starts, of course.

“For me, I’m only experienced group football in Champions League formats and the way to approach it was to always give it the biggest respect and to put all the focus into winning the group.

“It always seems difficult like our group now but we are confident and we will be well prepared when we arrive.”

World Cup match schedule

FIFA will reveal the match schedule at 5pm UK time on Saturday, December 6, where kick-off times and locations will be unveiled, but the key dates for the tournament have already been confirmed.

Group stage: June 11-27

Round of 32: June 28 to July 3

Round of 16: July 4-7

Quarter-finals: July 9-11

Semi-finals: July 14-15

Third-place play-off (‘Bronze final’): July 18

Final: July 19