Official: 2026 World Cup draw has Italy in Pot 4 | OneFootball

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)

FIFA 2026 World Cup draw pots

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