2026 World Cup Draw Drama: Haaland Could Face Messi or Ronaldo in Group Stage
Source: Antara
FIFA has finally released the four official pots for the 2026 World Cup draw, opening the door for the potential emergence of the biggest clashes possible on the modern football stage. These clashes could involve Erling Haaland vs Lionel Messi or Haaland vs Cristiano Ronaldo.
Norway, positioned in Pot 3, has a chance to be drawn into the same group as Argentina or Portugal from Pot 1, a scenario igniting the imagination of all football fans.
"With fewer than 200 days to go until the start of the 48-team World Cup, the procedure for determining the composition of the 12 groups of four teams has been confirmed," FIFA wrote on its official website.
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The 2026 World Cup will be the largest edition in history with 48 participants. A total of 42 teams have already secured their tickets to the 2026 World Cup.
While the remaining six will come from playoffs – four from the European zone and two from the inter-confederation playoffs. The six playoff teams are automatically placed in Pot 4.
Hosts United States, Canada, and Mexico automatically occupy Pot 1.
Distribution of the Four 2026 World Cup Pots
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, United States, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Ireland, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, UEFA Playoff A, B, C, D, Intercontinental Playoff 1 and 2
From this pot distribution, major scenarios could unfold in the group stage. For instance, Argentina vs Norway would pit Lionel Messi against Erling Haaland for the first time on the global football stage.
Or Portugal vs Norway, featuring a sharp duel between Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo. If it happens, this would be a "passing the torch match" that could become one of the historic moments.
Not only that, the public is also highlighting the possibility of Portugal being drawn in the same group again as Morocco, the team that dashed their dreams in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.
Towards the December 5th Draw: Tension Mounts
The 2026 World Cup draw will take place on December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC. A total of 42 countries are confirmed to attend to learn their potential opponents in the draw, except for one nation.
According to the IRNA news agency, the Iranian Football Federation cannot attend because the US government denied visas to several Iranian delegates intending to travel to Washington.
Federation spokesperson Amir-Mahdi Alavi explained they have requested a solution from FIFA. However, FIFA has declined to comment so far.
Iran is on the US "blacklist" of 12 countries whose citizens are barred from entering the US based on President Donald Trump's policy.
Although Trump promised visa waivers for athletes, coaches, and team staff competing, it's uncertain if this waiver applies to the draw event.
The Iranian delegation was to be led by Mehdi Taj, a senior AFC official and member of two FIFA Committees. But without visas, their attendance is impossible.
This diplomatic drama adds a new layer ahead of the draw, already brimming with tension due to potential giant clashes like Messi vs Haaland or Portugal vs Morocco Part Two.
