England and Scotland given tricky opponents in World Cup 2026 groups
The ceremony included musical performances from Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and Andrea Bocelli
The World Cup groups were drawn in a star-studded and glitzy ceremony in Washington this evening, which saw Donald Trump awarded the first Fifa Peace Prize.
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Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand conducted the draw, which saw England drawn in Group L for next summer’s World Cup finals in North America.
This means they will play their opening game against Croatia in either Toronto or Dallas. They will also face Panama and Ghana in Group L.
Scotland have been drawn in Group C, meaning they will face five-times world champions Brazil, 2022 semi-finalists Morocco, as well as Haiti.
The winner of Uefa Play-off A, which could be Wales or Northern Ireland, has been drawn in group B, and will face Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
The Republic of Ireland will be in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and South Africa if they can come through the March play-offs.
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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.
Croatia are among the toughest opponents England could have expected and will be their opening match in Toronto or Dallas on June 17.
Croatia beat England to reach the final in 2018 before getting to the semis at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The location and kick-off times of the group matches will be confirmed by FIFA on Saturday.
If England win the group, they will face a third-place team in Atlanta in the round of 32 on July 1.
England faced Panama at the 2018 finals, beating them 6-1 in the group phase, while they have never faced Ghana before in a competitive match.
Scotland have faced Brazil four times previously at World Cups – in 1974, 1982, 1990 and 1998. That last meeting was the opening game of the 1998 finals – the last time Scotland qualified.
Scotland’s opening game will be against Haiti on June 13.
The event kicked off with a performance by Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, before Fifa president Gianni Infantino gave a speech in which he encouraged those from the US, Mexico and Canada to chant for their respective countries.
Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger performed their new song together, which co-host Kevin Hart called "a song for the summer".
Half an hour into the ceremony and the draw was yet to start, but President Trump was named the very first winner of the Fifa Peace Prize.
President Trump accepted the prize from Mr Infantino, and was given a medal and a certificate.
The award is a hugely controversial one, with human rights campaigners having urged FIFA earlier this week not to hand the prize to Mr Trump.
Mr Infantino has previously praised Mr Trump’s role in the Middle East peace negotiations, while the US is also working to bring an end to the conflict sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
However, questions have been raised over the Trump administration’s conduct over the last week in relation to an attack on a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean Sea in September.
Later in the ceremony, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum, and US President Mr Trump were all invited on stage.
The three host country leaders picked their country's ball out of the pot in a segment purely for show, as we already knew which groups they were in.
After another musical performance, this time from Lauryn Hill, the draw finally began.
Full World Cup 2026 Group Stage draw
Group A: Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, Winner of Play-Off
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Winner of Play-Off
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Australia, Paraguay, Winner of Play-Off
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, Winner of Play-Off
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Winner of Play-Off
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Winner of Play-Off
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana