England handed major advantage by new 2026 World Cup seeding format

December 5, 2025 Oliver Obel

Alongside the expanded 48-team field, FIFA has introduced a significant change to the knockout layout.

According to reporting from SPORTbible, the governing body’s updated system assigns Spain, Argentina, France and England currently the world’s top-ranked sides to separate “quadrants” of the bracket. The setup is designed to prevent early clashes between the strongest nations in an enlarged knockout phase.

The move represents a notable shift from the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, where high-profile matchups regularly emerged as early as the round of 16.

England arrive with momentum

England enter the finals after producing one of the most commanding qualifying campaigns in their recent history. Thomas Tuchel’s squad won all eight of their Group K fixtures, finishing well clear of Albania and securing their spot with room to spare.

That perfect run, combined with the new bracket structure, has given supporters hope that this World Cup might offer a clearer path than previous attempts.

A potentially smoother route

If the current format holds through the draw, England would avoid Spain and Argentina until the semi-finals and France until the final. Those matchups carry plenty of recent history: Spain edged England in the Euro 2024 final, while France knocked them out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Analysts note that England’s quadrant is unlikely to be “easy,” but the absence of early meetings with long-standing rivals improves their prospects compared with past tournaments.

Attention turns to Washington

The World Cup draw will take place on December 5 in Washington, DC at 5 p.m. GMT. Both England and Scotland will feature, though in different pots.
England sit in Pot 1, while Scotland enter Pot 3 after a dramatic 4–2 win over Denmark secured top spot in their qualifying group.

By the end of the draw, both nations will have a clearer picture of whether FIFA’s new vision delivers a boost or throws fresh challenges in their way.

Source: SPORTbible