2026 World Cup Pots: Argentina, Spain Don't Have to Meet Until Semifinals

The 2026 World Cup pots have been finalized, meaning that the procedure for making the 12 groups for the 48-team tournament is set.

The draw will be held on Dec. 5. FIFA said Tuesday the top four teams in the latest men's rankings will, if they finish top of their respective round-robin groups, avoid each other until the semifinals of the June 11-July 19 tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The latest rankings put Spain, Argentina, France and England as the top four teams. That means that defending champion Argentina with Lionel Messi and top-ranked European champion Spain with Lamine Yamal won't meet until the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium near New York – as long as they win their respective groups. 

"To ensure competitive balance, two separate pathways to the semifinals have been established," FIFA said in a statement, aiming to reward teams whose consistent good results have raised their world ranking.

For next summer's tournament, each group will consist of one team from the following four pots, with Pot 1 including the three co-hosts and the nine highest ranked teams in the world. 

Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany

Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand; European Play-Off A, B, C and D; FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2

In all, 42 teams in the 48-team tournament are set. The other six entries will be decided in March when European and global