Three takeaways from the World Cup 2026 draw – video

England will face a rematch of their 2018 semi-final in the opening fixture of their World Cup campaign next summer, after they were drawn alongside Croatia in Group L. England will also play Panama, another side they faced at the Russia World Cup, and Ghana.

At the draw in Washington DC, which lasted more than two hours after 90 minutes of preamble, there were a number of strong groups selected. Scotland will also face a partial repeat of their last World Cup campaign in 1998 after they were drawn alongside Brazil and Morocco, as well as Haiti, in Group C.

The most prominent candidate for the title of 'Group of Death' is Group I, where the seeds France are joined by Senegal and Erling Haaland's Norway alongside the winner of an international playoff. USA face Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner.

Here is our Nick Ames with his takeaways from the draw.