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

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, beating them 6-1 in the group stages.

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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.

Should 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 first navigate a group 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."

Croatia beat England to reach the final in 2018, while they reached the semi-finals at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

"Nobody should be underestimated," Tuchel added. "Of course, Croatia is the standout, they're the highest ranked team from pot two that we got into our group but listen, Ghana is always full of talent and can always surprise and has a big history in World Cup football.

"Panama will try to make the most in their underdog role. No one can be underestimated, everyone deserves the fullest respect and we can show that."

Clarke: It's a great group | 'I didn't want European team'

Scotland have now been drawn against Brazil in most of their World Cup appearances - five out of nine.

Clarke's side also face a tough test in 2022 semi-finalists Morocco, who were the last team to face Scotland in the World Cup finals. A 3-0 win for the North Africans ended Scotland's 1998 campaign in Saint Etienne.

But Scotland will be the favourites to beat Caribbean nation Haiti in their opener as both sides meet for the first time.

"It's a good draw," Clarke told STV. "I didn't want any European teams, I wanted teams from different continents, and we got that.

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"Three great teams to play against and something to look forward to next summer.

"You see how the draw was going on and teams were getting pushed down and I thought we were going to end up in that section.

"It's a great group. Brazil is always a good game, and it's nice to get them. But Morocco is also a tough opponent, and it's two teams who, the last time we were at a World Cup, were teams that beat us. So hopefully this time we can do a little bit better against them."

Opta facts: England and Scotland's draws analysed

• England have only won two of their last nine group games at the World Cup against fellow European opponents (D4 L3), beating Wales 3-0 most recently in 2022.
• England's only previous meeting with Ghana of any sort came in a friendly in March 2011, with Asamoah Gyan's 90th-minute equaliser cancelling out Andy Carroll's opener.
• England are yet to lose to sides from Africa at the World Cup (W5 D3), winning each of their last two against Tunisia in 2018 (2-1) and Senegal in 2022 (3-0).
• England's only defeat under Thomas Tuchel so far in 10 games (W9) was to an African nation, losing 3-1 to Senegal in a friendly in June.
• Since losing to the USA in 1950, England are unbeaten in their six World Cup matches against CONCACAF nations (W3 D3).
• Scotland are winless in eight previous meetings with South American opposition at the World Cup (D2 L6), the most times one nation have faced opponents from the same confederation without ever winning.
• Brazil are the only nation that Scotland have faced more than three times in their entire history without ever winning, losing eight of their 10 meetings in all competitions (D2).
• Scotland's only previous game against a CONCACAF nation at the World Cup came in 1990, losing 1-0 to Costa Rica in their opening group game.
• Scotland are winless in each of their last six meetings with CONCACAF nations in all competitions (D3 L3).

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

(c) Sky Sports 2025: 2026 World Cup draw: England and Scotland learn group stage opponents for tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico