After hours and hours and hours of uninspired pageantry, the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final tournament finally took place on Friday afternoon.

Due to being out and about for work requirements, I had to listen to the event through my car speakers.

As I noted to my buddy Nathan Sager on his If You Cannot Play A Sport, Be One! page, “The draw ceremony was the worst (and longest) ever. I was listening in my car since I had to be out and about for work, and I stopped counting the number of awkward and cringeworthy moments. The pre and post coverage was also way over done. 1 hour, get it done, and maybe an hour of analysis afterwards, was all that was needed.”

FIFA, its fans, the world, and the participants are all poorer for having been a part of it. Okay, I’m being a wee (very wee) bit harsh. I did find Rio Ferdinand and Matthew McConaghy to be okay, while Salma Hayek’s segment was endearing, especially the dad joke she told: “Why don’t footballers ever over heat? Because of all the fans.”

That being noted, after sleeping on it – even two years removed from coaching, the 24 hour rule is stuck in my head – I’m ready for an objective winners/losers post about the draw event.

Winners

The United States. A very winnable group for the co-hosts. Paraguay, Australia, and the European Playoff C winner (Kosovo, Romania, Slovakia or Türkiye). Yeah, the USMNT should make it through and likely in first place.

Mexico. The draw was also favourable to the southern co-hosts. South Africa, South Korea, and the winner of European Playoff D (Czechia, Denmark, North Macedonia or Republic of Ireland). Sure, it won’t be easy, but it’s also a very winnable group.

Canada. While many believe Canada’s fate truly depends on which nation comes out of the European Playoff A pathway (Italia, Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, or Wales), the truth is I fully expect them to beat both Qatar and Switzerland. Even if they end up with a virtual away match in the opener on June 12 at BMO Field, they will have a distinct home advantage in Vancouver and are actually better than both those squads.

Argentina. The defending World Cup champions have been handed the easiest path to winning their group amongst the Pot 1 nations. Algeria, Austria, Jordan would have been who any of the main nations would have selected to be in their group.

Portugal and Colombia. If they both don’t make it through their group in first and second place, it will be due to a giant upset by either Uzbekistan or the FIFA Play-Off Tournament winner 1 (DR Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia).

Italia (if they make it). Okay, we’ll do a winners/losers piece in March after the UEFA playoffs, but IF the Azzurri make it, they have to like their chances of making it to the knockout rounds for the first time since winning the World Cup in 2006. Mind you, they missed the last two tournaments, so finishing the job and getting back to the tournament is key. But, consider this: at least a 50-50 crowd in Toronto against the co-hosts and then two very winnable matches.

Losers

All of Group F. This is 100% the Group of Death. Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, and the European Play-Off B winner (Albania, Poland, Sweden or Ukraine). Even the playoff is the hardest of the four UEFA pathways to the World Cup. This will not be an easy group no matter what.

Panama. Congratulations. Thank you for coming out. Enjoy the party while you’re still invited. Please try to not embarrass yourselves while you’re here. England, Croatia, and Ghana thank you for their respective three points.

Whoever chose Wayne Gretzky to be part of the ceremony. Seriously, why didn’t we pick someone else? The butchering of the nations names, slow speech, and lack of personality was NOT a true representation of Canada and our wonderful multiculturalism. Unless the other guys included Michael Jordan and Derek Jeter/Ken Griffey Jr./Barry Bonds, the Great One could have been replaced by a more current hockey player (Sidney Crosby maybe?). Or instead of hockey, how about basketball? Two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash anyone? Current NBA MVP, NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Or go to track: Donovan Bailey? Andre DeGrasse? There were plenty of well-known options.

Football as a whole. This 48 team nonsense is just silly. There will be some very, very, very good teams left out of the tournament, while some very, very, very undeserving nations are going to be there. FIFA trying to “grow the game” only makes sense if the football being played at their showcase event is worthy of a World Cup final tournament. Then the ridiculous draw event that was more embarrassing than anything. Hopefully, they are saved by the right teams making it through the UEFA playoffs and then all the quality teams getting through the group stage.

On that note, I’m still looking forward to the event and hope that FIFA draws my name for tickets in the next round. Sorry FIFA, I can’t justify $2,500 (at the low end) for a hospitality package to guarantee a spot in the stadium.

That’s it for me! Ciao for Now!