Hosts (3) - Canada, US, Mexico
Asia (8) - Japan, Iran, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
Africa (9) - Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire
CONCACAF (3) - Panama, Curacao, Haiti
CONMEBOL (6) - Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia
Oceania (1) - New Zealand
UEFA (16) - England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Scotland, Austria
European playoffs
Pot 1 - Italy, Denmark, Turkey Ukraine
Pot 2 - Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia
Pot 3 - Albania, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo
Pot 4 - Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
Pot 1 home to Pot 4, Pot 2 home to Pot 3, draw for which semi-final winners hosts the final.
A 6 team inter-confederation playoff in March 2026 will determine the last 2 spots.
Asia 9th - Iraq
Africa 10th - DR Congo
CONCACAF 4th and 5th - Jamaica, Suriname
CONMEBOL 7th - Bolivia
Oceania 2nd - New Caledonia
Iraq and DR Congo will be seeded and into the final, the other 4 will have to play semis.
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Watching the Oilers defend is like watching fire engines frantically rushing to the wrong fire
Here are the World Cup Draw pots. It was originally thought that all playoff teams will be in Pot 4 but there is a rumor that FIFA may change that to the ranking of the best team in each path. Therefore, no Europeans in Pot 4 instead of 4. I think this makes more sense. Sorry devo. https://twitter.com/user/status/1990992154865356843
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Watching the Oilers defend is like watching fire engines frantically rushing to the wrong fire
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It's wacky what's happened with Concacaf. Honduras, Costa Rica and Jamaica have fallen so far off.
Jamaica was the most disapointing, that was a cupcake group, all Caribbean teams, not having to go to Central America and their shenanigans. I thought they would have qualified by Matchday 4.
They still have a chance in the playoffs. I'd rather play Iraq than DR Congo so the draw will be important.
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Watching the Oilers defend is like watching fire engines frantically rushing to the wrong fire
WASHINGTON -- Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was at the White House on Tuesday as President Donald Trump hosted a glitzy dinner to honor Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The 40-year-old Portuguese star signed a two-year extension in June with Al Nassr, which is majority owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund that the crown prince chairs.
Trump thanked the athlete for attending. He said that his youngest son, Barron, is a "big fan" of Ronaldo and the 19-year-old was impressed that he got to meet the soccer player.
"Barron got to meet him. And I think he respects his father a little bit more, now, just the fact that I introduced you," Trump said.
Prince Mohammed was visiting the White House for the first time since a period of diplomatic isolation began in 2018 after the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents in a consulate office in Istanbul. U.S. intelligence agencies determined that Prince Mohammed likely directed the operation. He has denied involvement in the killing.
I absolutely love this new format with more countries. But could you imagine a matchup in the World Cup next year of Spain vs. Curacao... good lord, it'd be like F-35s against the Wright Brothers
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You don't need to know your opponents, but you probably would like to know exactly where and when you are playing to get the logistics set up. Especially in a sprawled tournament like this.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
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You don't need to know your opponents, but you probably would like to know exactly where and when you are playing to get the logistics set up. Especially in a sprawled tournament like this.
Why?
There are still two options.
Even in this case you are going to either Wales or Bosnia - not like it's guaranteed where you are playing.
Even in this case you are going to either Wales or Bosnia - not like it's guaranteed where you are playing.
She's talking about the full draw, not the playoff draw. I agree doing this draw four months in advance is silly, but the good news is there's no international break for four months so yay to that.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
I like having the draw early so selfishly I can plan a potential trip to a desirable game. It would have been nice to have all the playoffs wrapped up before the draw.
Secondary ticket market prices would vary widely if you got Italy compared to one of the other Euro teams.
I like having the draw early so selfishly I can plan a potential trip to a desirable game. It would have been nice to have all the playoffs wrapped up before the draw.
Secondary ticket market prices would vary widely if you got Italy compared to one of the other Euro teams.
Will the draw be such that you'd know where Italy would land if they end up getting in do you think?
