On Wednesday, FIFA published updated rankings following the conclusion of qualifying matches across four continents, determining the top-seeded teams for the World Cup tournament draw scheduled for December 5. Notably, Germany made the cut, while Croatia was not included in this elite group.
Alongside co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the No. 1 seeds will also feature top-ranked Spain, current champions Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
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Croatia, which reached the semifinals in 2022 and was the runner-up to France in 2018, has been placed in Pot 2 for the upcoming draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump is expected to be present.
The revised FIFA rankings have also determined the seeding for Thursday’s draw for playoff brackets in March, which will finalize the last six spots in the expanded 48-nation World Cup lineup.
The playoff stage includes 22 teams; 16 from Europe will vie for four World Cup slots, while six teams from other regions will compete for two spots in the intercontinental playoffs.
Italy headlines the European playoffs, striving to avoid a third consecutive exit at this stage, having finished as runners-up after Norway in their qualifying group. Norway, featuring star Erling Haaland, poses a formidable threat as an option from Pot 3 during the draw in two weeks.
Italy will face a fourth-seeded team in their playoff draw at home, which could potentially be North Macedonia, the team that famously eliminated Italy in 2022.
The winner on March 26 will advance to a playoff final five days later against whoever comes out on top in the No. 2 vs. No. 3 seed matchup in their bracket. Notably, home advantage for the single-game playoff finals will be determined by the draw, rather than FIFA rankings.
The teams emerging from the four distinct European playoff brackets are expected to fill spots reserved for lower-ranked teams from Pot 4 in the draw on December 5.
In the intercontinental playoffs, top-seeded teams Iraq and Congo will await the winners of playoff semifinals involving Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname.
Seedings for the European playoffs
Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.
Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia.
Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo.
Pot 4: Northern Ireland, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia.
Intercontinental playoffs
Seeded: Congo, Iraq.
Unseeded: Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Suriname.