World Cup 2026 draw TV channel, begin time and easy methods to watch as England opponents revealed
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is taking place on Friday, December 5, with England and Scotland finding out their opponents for the group stage
There are only 188 days left until the 2026 World Cup gets underway.
Anticipation is building for the tournament, which is set to take place in the US, Canada and Mexico, beginning on June 11. The 48 countries involved will be waiting to find out their opponents when the draw takes place on Friday, December 5, at 5pm GMT (12pm ET) in Washington DC.
England topped their qualifying group with eight wins from eight games and remarkably no goals conceded against Albania, Serbia, Latvia and Andorra. Under Thomas Tuchel, the Three Lions are hungry to win the tournament for the first time since 1966, after being knocked out in the quarter-finals by France in Qatar 2022.
Scotland meanwhile qualified in dramatic fashion under manager Steve Clarke. Their astonishing 4-2 win over Denmark saw them win their group, meaning they will head to the tournament for the first time in 28 years. Of course, Wales and Northern Ireland are still in the play-offs, but here Daily Star Sport provides all the details you need about the World Cup draw, including how to watch it and who England and Scotland might face.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup draw
The draw will be aired live on FIFA.com and FIFA’s YouTube channel. Fans in the UK can also catch it live on the BBC and BBC iPlayer, while US viewers can tune in via Fox and Fubo.
How the 2026 World Cup draw will work
The 48 teams or placeholders will be split into four pots of 12 teams, determined by FIFA’s world rankings list published on November 19. A team from each pot will be randomly drawn into each of the 12 World Cup groups.
As is always the case, hosts Mexico, Canada and the US will automatically be placed in Pot 1. The top nine countries will join the three hosts in Pot 1. The next 12 nations will be put in Pot 2 and so on.
However, there are a few rules to keep in mind. Teams from the same pot can’t face each other in the group stage. Teams from the same confederation can’t be drawn into the same group either, with the exception of UEFA, where a maximum of two European nations can be drawn into each group.
It’s worth noting that with the World Cup expanding from 32 to 48 teams, eight of the best third-place teams in the groups will advance to the new round of 32. The eight teams with the highest points tally will progress, with goal difference and then goals scored determining the qualifiers if several teams finish with the same points total.
Who England can face
Being in Pot 1, England will avoid the host nations and the strongest teams: Spain, Argentina, France, Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
From Pot 2, England could draw Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia.
Pot 3 includes Panama, Norway, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Pot 4 could see Tuchel’s side being drawn against Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand or the victors of the European and intercontinental playoffs. A group featuring Iran, Tunisia and Haiti, for example, is undoubtedly a tantalising prospect.
Who Scotland can face
Being in Pot 3, Scotland will avoid Panama, Norway, Egypt, Algeria, Paraguay, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. So no facing Erling Haaland or Mohamed Salah!
From Pot 1, Scotland could draw England – or USA, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, France, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium or Germany.
Their Pot 2 opponents could be Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia.
And from Pot 4 they may face Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, one of the four UEFA play-off winners or one of the two inter-continental play-off winners.
