The top four ranked teams in the draw for next year’s World Cup are set to be kept apart until at least the semi-finals, FIFA has announced.

The move increases the likelihood of a rematch of the classic 2022 final between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Kylian Mbappe’s France.

Argentina, as the second-ranked team, have been paired with rankings leaders Spain and put on opposite sides of the draw, assuming they win their groups.

France are ranked third, with England fourth, and those two, who met in the quarter-finals in Qatar, are also provisionally paired.

It means that should all four teams top their first-round pools and continue to progress, Argentina would face France or England in the semi-finals, with Spain facing the other.

For Argentina and France to renew their rivalry then, the draw – which takes place on December 5 – would have to set the world champions on course for a last-four meeting with England.

Argentina beat France on penalties in the last final after an epic 3-3 draw, with Messi celebrating another incredible high in his remarkable career despite Mbappe’s hat-trick.

Another potential final match-up is England versus Spain, a repeat of the Euro 2024 decider won by La Roja.

The procedures and pots have been revealed for the Final Draw. #FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 25, 2025

The pots for the draw were also confirmed on Tuesday as the top four teams were joined in pot one by Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well as hosts United States, Mexico and Canada.

Croatia, Colombia, Uruguay and Senegal are among the teams in the second pot, with Norway an obvious threat in the third.

Half of pot four is still to be determined as it will include four play-off winners from Europe, along with the two inter-confederation victors.