The top seeds for the 2026 World Cup draw have been determined by the latest FIFA rankings, released after the conclusion of continental qualifying. These top-seeded teams will be placed in the highest pot for the draw ceremony.
The United States, Mexico, and Canada, as co-hosts, automatically receive top seeding. They will be joined in the top pot by other highly ranked nations including Brazil, Argentina, France, England, Belgium, Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany.
Croatia, despite reaching the semi-finals in 2022 and the final in 2018, has been seeded into Pot 2. The updated rankings also set the seeding for the playoff brackets that will determine the final six teams in the expanded 48-nation tournament.
Italy, a four-time world champion, has been relegated to the playoffs after finishing second in their qualifying group behind Norway. They are the top seed in the European playoffs, with Norway positioned as a dangerous Pot 3 option.
Italy will face North Macedonia, whom they shockingly lost to in the 2022 qualifiers, in their playoff bracket. The winners of these playoffs are expected to be placed in Pot 4 for the main draw.
In the intercontinental playoffs, Morocco and Peru are seeded, awaiting the winners of semi-final matches involving other nations.
