With the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finally complete, supporters of both England and Scotland can now begin mapping out what their nations’ journeys might look like at next summer’s expanded tournament. For both teams, the draw offered a blend of familiar foes, potential pitfalls, and intriguing knockout-stage possibilities.

Scotland find themselves reliving memories from their 1998 World Cup appearance after being placed in the same group as Brazil and Morocco, two teams who defeated them during that campaign. Meanwhile, England’s group appears less dramatic on paper, but it offers manager Thomas Tuchel valuable opportunity to shape his squad before the tournament’s pressure intensifies.

So how could the group stage and knockout rounds unfold for both teams? Here’s a detailed projection.

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England’s Group Stage Route

England begin their World Cup journey with a potentially tricky opening match against Croatia, hosted either in Toronto or Arlington, near Dallas. While Croatia ended England’s hopes in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, recent meetings have favored England, who remain unbeaten in three matches since that painful defeat.

A strong start would put England in control of the group, setting them up to push for top spot.

Their second match is against Ghana, a team that once ranked inside the world’s top 15 but has fallen significantly since. Ghana failed to qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, suggesting a transitional phase that England could capitalize on.

England finish against Panama, who they famously beat in 2018. Although Panama reached the 2023 Gold Cup final, they remain underdogs at this level.

Another small advantage for England is scheduling: they begin almost a week after the tournament’s opening game, giving Tuchel extra preparation time. And with no west-coast fixtures, England fans back home should avoid late-night kickoffs.

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Scotland’s Group Stage Battle

Scotland open their campaign earlier than England, playing Haiti on 13 June in either Foxborough or East Rutherford. Given that their other opponents are Brazil and Morocco—both inside FIFA’s top 11—this first match becomes crucial to their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.

Haiti have only one previous World Cup appearance (in 1974) and struggled in recent Gold Cups. For Scotland, early goals and a strong start could be decisive, especially given the importance of goal difference in a tournament where eight of 12 third-place finishers advance.

Like England, Scotland also avoid west-coast venues, meaning more favourable match times for UK viewers.

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Knockout Stage Scenarios

Round of 32 Possibilities

If England top Group L, they will play in Atlanta against a third-place team drawn from Groups E, H, I, J or K. With dozens of permutations, opponents could range widely, but likely candidates include Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Senegal, or the winner of the DR Congo playoff path. Most options are winnable, though facing Norway and Erling Haaland would be a daunting prospect.

If England finish second, they are sent to Toronto to face the Group K runners-up—likely Colombia.

For Scotland, winning Group C would set up a Round of 32 tie in Houston against the Group F runners-up, potentially Japan or Tunisia. Finishing second likely sends them to Mexico to face the Netherlands, while qualifying in third place would lead to ties against group winners such as Mexico, Germany, or France, depending on how third-place slots align.

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Last 16 Outlook

Should England advance by winning their group and navigating the Round of 32, their next challenge would almost certainly be in Mexico City against Group A’s winner—expected to be host nation Mexico. Playing the co-hosts in front of a passionate home crowd would be one of England’s toughest possible matchups at this stage.

If England were runners-up instead, their opponent would likely be Spain—an equally intimidating prospect.

Scotland could find themselves on parallel paths. Their last-16 opponents could be Mexico, Germany, or France, depending on their finishing position in Group C and the tournament’s third-place bracket combinations.

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Quarter-Final Predictions

In the quarter-final stage, England’s path leads back to the United States, likely in Miami. There they could face the winners emerging from Group C—which includes Brazil. A high-profile England vs Brazil showdown is a very real possibility.

However, football rarely follows the script. Upsets from teams such as Norway, Tunisia, or Ivory Coast could alter the bracket.

For Scotland, if they manage a remarkable run into the quarter-finals, a date in Foxborough against the Netherlands is the most probable scenario.

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Semi-Final and Final Prospects

Predicting this stage is speculative, yet if England do reach the final four, their semifinal opponents are projected to come from a quadrant featuring Argentina and Portugal—both heavyweights.

Scotland, in the opposite half, would be likely to encounter Spain, Belgium, or the United States in a semi-final if they make an extraordinary run.

The final will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on 19 July. For either England or Scotland to reach that stage, they will need to survive one of the toughest World Cup paths ever constructed.