BERLIN – JULY 9: General view of the World Cup trophy prior to the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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.
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.
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
