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WC 2026 Seedings

I don’t think there can be two Asian confederation teams (us and Iran) in one group, is that correct? Similar for two CONCACAF teams (Canada and Jamaica)?
That is correct if the teams qualify directly. It appears that teams that are unseeded for the intercontinental playoffs may end up in groups with a team from their own confederation if they make it through to the WC.

So if Jamaica qualifies directly they don't draw another CONCACAF side but if they qualify via playoffs they may face USA or Canada (as an example).
 
That is correct if the teams qualify directly. It appears that teams that are unseeded for the intercontinental playoffs may end up in groups with a team from their own confederation if they make it through to the WC.

So if Jamaica qualifies directly they don't draw another CONCACAF side but if they qualify via playoffs they may face USA or Canada (as an example).
Lazy FIFA
Rumour alert:


Ok - to be honest... that's bullashita
 
Canada 0 Ecuador 0 FT. Will this result re Ecuador's result impact WC seedings?
A loss would have been better. But now at least they are back to being like only 0.1 pts ahead of us.


But, given the revelation about the playoff seedings, I don't think it matters anymore. Italy's playoff path will now be seeded ahead of us in Pot 1. If Scotland somehow get past Denmark, then Denmark's playoff path will also be seeded ahead of us into Pot 2 as well.
 
A loss would have been better. But now at least they are back to being like only 0.1 pts ahead of us.


But, given the revelation about the playoff seedings, I don't think it matters anymore. Italy's playoff path will now be seeded ahead of us in Pot 1. If Scotland somehow get past Denmark, then Denmark's playoff path will also be seeded ahead of us into Pot 2 as well.
FIFA always make these fkn decisions and they always favour one or two of Europe or South America. Crooked.
 
This article


states that no teams from the same confederation, except UEFA, can be placed in the same group.
I don't know whether this article is just assuming the same rules re confederation match-ups apply in 2026, or whether that has been actually confirmed by FIFA. The reason I'm querying this is that at the FIFA U17 WC currently underway in Qatar, the first FIFA tornament to expand to 48 teams, teams are NOT separated by confederation, so e.g. you have Zambia playing Mali in the round of 32.
 
I don't know whether this article is just assuming the same rules re confederation match-ups apply in 2026, or whether that has been actually confirmed by FIFA. The reason I'm querying this is that at the FIFA U17 WC currently underway in Qatar, the first FIFA tornament to expand to 48 teams, teams are NOT separated by confederation, so e.g. you have Zambia playing Mali in the round of 32.
Knockout stages are not part of the separation of confederations principle - just the group stage
 
It sounds like after the loss at the weekend Australia are likely to be pot 3 in the finals draw.

At least this time we have qualified direct and can prepare for our group opponents in March and May/June rather than needing to survive playoffs. And in an expanded World Cup finishing top 2 or amongst the 8 best 3rd place teams means progressing to the knockouts is a little easier.
 
big drama all of a sudden as according to FOX Sports website in United States now reporting that teams in UEFA & inter-confederation playoffs will be pot four that could now mean Scotland v Denmark in Glasgow on Wednesday Morning is significant now.

 
It sounds like after the loss at the weekend Australia are likely to be pot 3 in the finals draw.

At least this time we have qualified direct and can prepare for our group opponents in March and May/June rather than needing to survive playoffs. And in an expanded World Cup finishing top 2 or amongst the 8 best 3rd place teams means progressing to the knockouts is a little easier.
I think we were condemned to Pot 3 once the news came out that the IC playoff spots would be seeded in. However….
big drama all of a sudden as according to FOX Sports website in United States now reporting that teams in UEFA & inter-confederation playoffs will be pot four that could now mean Scotland v Denmark in Glasgow on Wednesday Morning is significant now.

… this now throws the spanner in the works. This is what we thought would be the case originally until last week, and makes the most sense in terms of how it should be seeded, realistically.
 
So at a quick glance, Australia would've been one of the two highest seeded in the intercontinental playoffs going straight to the final? Where's the fun in that?
 
So at a quick glance, Australia would've been one of the two highest seeded in the intercontinental playoffs going straight to the final? Where's the fun in that?
Yeah I think so - I think even way back when we thought that was going to be the path, I worked out as such (assuming the ranked nations all made it normally)

I guess we find out officially tomorrow - but given the standings heading into the final day for CONCACAF, and Iraq “leading” the Asian playoff at the moment - the playoffs should work as such:

SEEDED (bye to the final playoff - will avoid each other):
- Panama (31)
- Iraq (57)

UNSEEDED (will be randomly drawn into a match against each other, with each winner facing a seeded team in 2x final playoffs)
- DR Congo (60)
- Jamaica (68)
- Bolivia (76)
- New Caledonia (150)

If Iraq loses to Jordan - and only using the current rankings, Congo would become seeded, with UAE being in the unseeded pot.
 
All Playoff winners are automatically pot 4 right? Wouldn't be fair to draw a UEFA Playoff group and the higher or lower ranked team wins and somewhat distorts the group.
 
It would make no sense to not have playoff winners as we don't know who'll get in. The bigger teams should but they can't do the draw on that assumption. Imagine saying Intercontinental group 2 winner then New Caledonia wins it.
 

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I haven't followed this closely but it is surprising.
Am just writing this out now - will be a little different I think because they're leaving some TBCs in weird spots there.

But we're back in Pot 2 - assuming that report is correct, and the other one from last week is incorrect!
 
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