World Cup 2026 draw: worst-case scenarios for England, Scotland, USA and Australia

Before Friday's event we also examine a possible overall group of death and where geopolitics could meet football

Croatia are the highest-ranked potential Pot 2 opponents (10th) and reached the final and the semi-finalis at the past two World Cups respectively but, with a maximum of two European teams in each group, drawing them would eliminate for England the possibility of facing Erling Haaland's Norway, who are in Pot 3, or Italy, who are in Pot 4, if the four-time champions get through the playoffs in March.