World Cup 2026 draw: Haaland v Mbappe, Trump & YMCA – best of draw

Assuming the top teams manage to get through their groups safely – an admittedly dangerous assumption – we shouldn’t have to wait too long for some of the big strikers to clash.

Where things can get really tasty is in the last 16, especially with the potential draw between former champions Germany and France.

The two last met in the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, where Mats Hummels’ early header put the Germans ahead.

If Germany gets back to the top, they will have to battle the Netherlands and Spain to reach the final; A very tough series ended in the simplest group.

On the other side of the draw, all eyes will immediately be drawn to the quarter-final stage and old rivals Messi and Ronaldo are preparing for a possible meeting.

This depends on both Argentina and Portugal finishing top of their respective groups and then qualifying for the last 32 and 16, but if they can do that it would be a remarkable way for the duo to make their mark on their final World Cup.

For England, a match against hosts Mexico looks like the most likely fixture in their last-32 tie, ensuring the Three Lions top their group.

And if Scotland can manage to win, Japan or the Netherlands could be waiting for them in their first World Cup qualifier.