World Cup 2026 draw to adopt tennis-style system for the four top seeds

• Spain, Argentina, France, England will be top seeds

• Fifa says measure will ensure competitive balance'

The four highest-placed teams in Fifa's rankings have had a pathway cleared to meet in the World Cup semi-finals after tennis-style seeding measures were introduced in the name of ensuring competitive balance".

Spain, Argentina, France and England - the top four in descending order - are to be split into different brackets in the 48-team finals tournament, with the aim of preventing Spain from facing Argentina, or England from playing France, before a possible final.