Official: 2026 World Cup draw has Italy in Pot 4

FIFA have finally announced the seeding for the 2026 World Cup draw, so it is now confirmed Italy will be in Pot 4 if they get through the play-offs.

The draw for the tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico is set to be held on December 5 in Washington DC.

There had been some confusion over what the seeding process would be, seeing as there are still six place-holders for the teams coming in through the play-offs, four of them from Europe.

It is the first ever tournament with 48 teams and there will be 12 groups of four.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy , looks on prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy . (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

There were reports the FIFA ranking could be used to bump the UEFA play-off teams up, but it is now confirmed they will all be in Pot 4.

Italy must play Northern Ireland in the play-off semi-final on March 26, then hopefully either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final on March 31.

In the draw, this is marked as European Play-Off Path A.

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 16: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy warms up prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Norway at San Siro Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Milan, Italy . (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

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

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

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

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