Argentina enters the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the reigning champions. After triumphing in the 2022 tournament held in Qatar, the team led by Lionel Messi is poised to defend its title. The upcoming World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This edition marks a significant change as it expands from 32 to 48 teams, introducing new dynamics to the competition.
Argentina’s Pot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw
On Friday, Argentina will discover its group stage matchups during the World Cup draw taking place at 12 noon ET in Washington, D.C. As a member of Pot 1, Argentina will be joined by other top-ranked teams and the three host nations. Being in Pot 1 guarantees that Argentina will not face another team from the same pot during the group stage.
World Cup 2026 Draw Pots
The World Cup draw is organized into four pots based on the FIFA world rankings, with each pot containing 12 teams. The following teams and their rankings will fill the pots:
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain (1) | Colombia (13) | Norway (29) | Jordan (66) |
| Argentina (2) | Switzerland (17) | Panama (30) | Cape Verde (68) |
| France (3) | Japan (18) | Paraguay (39) | New Zealand (86) |
| England (4) | Senegal (19) | Tunisia (40) | UEFA playoff A |
| Brazil (5) | Iran (20) | Ivory Coast (42) | UEFA playoff B |
| Portugal (6) | South Korea (22) | Uzbekistan (50) | UEFA playoff C |
| Netherlands (7) | Ecuador (23) | Qatar (51) | UEFA playoff D |
| Belgium (8) | Austria (24) | Saudi Arabia (60) | Intercontinental playoff 1 |
| Germany (9) | Australia (26) | South Africa (61) | Intercontinental playoff 2 |
| USA* (14) | Mexico* (15) | Canada* (27) |
Argentina’s current standing as the second-ranked team globally solidifies its position in Pot 1. The World Cup draw’s format allows for one team from each pot to be assigned to four different groups. Consequently, this tournament will introduce more four-team groups than ever before.
Advancement to Knockout Stages
In this format, the top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout round. Additionally, the eight best third-placed teams will advance based on their points, followed by goal difference, and other tiebreakers, ensuring a competitive tournament.
As excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fans eagerly anticipate the draw and the potential paths their teams may take on the road to victory.
