World Cup 2026

[Durhamfootman]

draw for the WC takes place later today

looks a pigging complicated process

If i was a betting man, and I'm not, I'd reckon that England would avoid any UEFA sides in pots 2 and 3. That leaves them free to avoid pot 4 power houses like Cape Verde and Curacao and end up with Italy instead

[Durhamfootman]

well that was scary.... I'm still shuddering at the shock of Infantino's blatant Trump handjob

anyway.... an hour and a half after the draw began, they've done the draw for pot 1

it's going to be a long time, folks

England in group L

[Durhamfootman]

well that was scary.... I'm still shuddering at the shock of Infantino's blatant Trump handjob

although Melania will be pleased, because now she won't have to

[Durhamfootman]

draw for the WC takes place later today

looks a pigging complicated process

If i was a betting man, and I'm not, I'd reckon that England would avoid any UEFA sides in pots 2 and 3. That leaves them free to avoid pot 4 power houses like Cape Verde and Curacao and end up with Italy instead

I'm wrong..... and not for the first time

England get old favourites Croatia from pot 2

[Durhamfootman]

Panama from pot 3

pot 4 will not now include any UEFA play off teams, so we might yet get Cape Verde or Curacao

[Durhamfootman]

France have got (although the draw is taking place in Trumpland, so I may have to say 'gotten' instead or risk orange ire) Senegal and Norway..... looking very group of death ish atm

at least they can't draw Italy as well

[Durhamfootman]

The Eric's get Curacao

Scotland get Brazil, Morocco and Haiti

[Durhamfootman]

Spain get Cape Verde along with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia

[Durhamfootman]

France..................looking very group of death ish atm

Argentina get the group of fluffy cuddles.... Algeria, Austria, Jordan

[Durhamfootman]

England
Croatia
Panama
Ghana

not an easy group, really, but there is a round of 32, so only the last place and worst four 3rd placers will get eliminated before the start of the next century. We haven't had that since Italia '90. Of course there were only 6 groups of 4 then

[Durhamfootman]

Unlike in the Southgate days where England kept being rewarded for underperforming in the group stages by ending up, entirely by chance, on the soft half of the KO draw, this time England will only get seeding advantages if they top their group. If they don't, it's lottery time for the round's of 32 and 16, so Croatia and Ghana both hold risks for them. Croatia will the England's first opponent, so Tuchel will have to reverse decades of England slow starts in major tournaments if he wants to avoid getting a team like France or Germany or Belgium in the round of 32..... no jeopardy there, then.

Seemingly the winners of groups C, F, H and J have the best chances of avoiding another group winner until the QF's. (Brazil, Holland, Spain and Argentina)

[Durhamfootman]

If England top their group they cannot meet France until the final

nor can they meet Spain or Argentina before the semi finals, and since Brazil and Holland cannot meet another group winner until the QF's, then England won't draw them in an early KO round either.

Of course, if England don't top their group, then all bets are off and Tuchel will have to do something that Southgate never had to do.... beat a half decent team early in the competition

[Durhamfootman]

venues will be announced tomorrow

seemingly England v Croatia will be in either Toronto or Dallas

I don't know what the temps will be like in Toronto, but I rather imagine Dallas could well feel like playing in an oven

The time zones will make the WC tough to watch in Blighty, given that European teams are (supposedly) more likely to be allocated later kick off times, so it's possible (probable maybe) that England games will be scheduled (or skeduled to prevent orange ire) for midnight or 0200 BST

[Durhamfootman]

If England top their group they cannot meet France until the final

nor can they meet Spain or Argentina before the semi finals, and since Brazil and Holland cannot meet another group winner until the QF's, then England won't draw them in an early KO round either.

Of course, if England don't top their group, then all bets are off and Tuchel will have to do something that Southgate never had to do.... beat a half decent team early in the competition

all scenarios are dependent upon those teams also topping their groups, of course

[Durhamfootman]

England matches will be played either at 9pm or 10pm BST

the Croatia game will be played in Dallas with average temps in the mid 30's, but it can be played under a roof with the air con turned on
Ghana in Boston
Panama in New Jersey. Both these last two have average temps in the mid to late 20's

England do face the possibility of a last 16 tie in Mexico city where the temps ought to be okay, but the thinner air won't be helpful

Scotland start their campaign with an 2am BST kick off v Haiti in Boston followed by Morocco also in Boston at 11pm and finally Brazil in Miami at a similar time. Miami is hot and humid with no roof and no air con, so that will be a tough gig for the plucky Jocks. If Scotland want to make it through to the round of 32, they'll have to hammer Haiti, because the four 3rd placed teams who don't qualify may well miss out on goal difference

round of 32..... what a nonsense!