As the clock ticks towards 5 p.m. this Friday, anticipation builds in Washington, D.C., for the World Cup draw set to include Scotland for the first time since the 1998 tournament in France. Scotland’s return marks an exciting milestone, and the draw’s location at the John F. Kennedy Center adds a touch of prestige as it welcomes an array of prominent figures, including U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, a diverse mix of countries will compete, presenting a unique challenge for the Scottish Football Association (SFA) delegation as they hope for favorable outcomes in the draw. This expansion, a significant increase from Qatar 2022’s 32-team format, will feature four pots, each holding 12 teams. Scotland, under the guidance of Steve Clarke, finds itself in the third pot.

While the exact configurations of the 12 groups of four teams remain to be finalized, the entire draw process is anticipated to be completed in under an hour, providing a succinct yet thrilling glimpse into the future matchups for the eagerly awaited tournament across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

In an effort to demystify the upcoming event, John McGarry of Daily Mail Sport offers insights into what fans and teams can expect as the much-anticipated tournament begins to take form.

Is the composition of all the four pots set by teams’ FIFA rankings?

Is the composition of all the four pots set by teams’ FIFA rankings?

Not all of them. The three hosts – USA, Canada and Mexico – are not in the top 12 of the ruling body’s list. They have been put in the top pot to ensure they will play all their group games in their own countries. By rights, Croatia (10) Morocco (11) and Italy (12, if they qualify via playoffs) should be top seeds.

The World Cup trophy in Washington ahead of Friday’s long-awaited World Cup draw

The official balls for the draw on the stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington

Depending on which six nations come through the play-offs in March, there may be other sides in pot four who really ought to have been placed higher.

Scotland are a pot three team. Does that mean they can draw any team from the other three pots?

No. FIFA want to avoid sides from the same Federation, eg UEFA, from playing each other. However, this simply isn’t possible with the 16 European nations. Rudimentary arithmetic dictates that four groups will have two teams from this continent.

Suggestions that FIFA would keep all the winners of the European qualifying groups apart (such as Scotland) proved unfounded. So, Clarke’s side could draw England – or any of the top Euro seeds – from pot one. But they couldn’t go into a section (possibly three of them) where there are already two European nations.

How will FIFA avoid teams going into groups which would see too many from the same Federation competing against each other?

All the teams from pot one will be drawn from Groups A to L. The draw will then continue with pots two, three and four in that order. The co-hosts will have coloured balls. Their groups are pre-determined.

Starting with pot two, there will only be certain groups that a team can’t be put in. For example, Uruguay can’t be placed with Argentina or Brazil. More groups will be ‘off limits’ once we get down to pots three and four.

Any other complications?

Yes. To ensure their big hitters are unlikely to meet each other before the semi-finals, FIFA will put Spain and Argentina (ranked one and two) on opposite sides of the draw. The same applies to France and England. All they need to do is win their groups.

Scotland’s players celebrate returning to the World Cup for the first time since France 1998

The identity of the six sides to come through the play-offs isn’t yet known. How will it work?

Even though we won’t know who is involved until next year, the same principle applies. The four mystery teams from the European pathways (including Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland) can’t go in a group which already has two UEFA sides.

The teams involved in the inter-confederation play-offs will have few potential group options. Pathway one – New Caledonia, Jamaica, DR Congo – can’t be drawn into a group with Concacaf or African teams. Pathway two – Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq – must avoid South America, Concacaf and Asia.

What top-seeded nation will Steve Clarke privately be hoping to draw, and who would he look to avoid?

Like everyone representing a nation from one of the lower pots, you’d want to land one of the three hosts purely because they aren’t as strong as the others. The disadvantage would be the partizan crowds and the scramble for tickets, but you’d take your chances. Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil or Germany would obviously be formidable. Portugal, Netherlands or Belgium, maybe a little less so.

Is there much to choose between the pot two sides?

Although Croatia are the top-ranked team, Scotland have beaten them and ran them close recently. They’re an ageing team and this might be a competition too far for them. Austria, Switzerland, Australia or Iran would also be acceptable.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the name of the host nation in Washington

The South Americans – Colombia, Uruguay and Ecuador – would all be problematic. Each finished above Brazil in qualifying.

Morocco made it to the semis in Qatar and won each of their eight qualifiers. Senegal and Korea Republic will be fancied to go far this time.

And what of pot four?

This is where you really need a break. With eight of the third-placed teams qualifying for the knock-out round of 32, you might only need to win one match to make it. So, even if Scotland gets two sides they’d rather avoid from the top two pots, getting a weaker pot four team can make all the difference.

You’d certainly want to avoid the European play-offs which could serve up Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine or Turkey. Likewise, the inter-continental play-offs which could land you with DR Congo or Bolivia.

Curacao aren’t quite the dream ticket people think they are. The tiny island nation, managed by Dick Advocaat, only have one player who’s not been naturalised. Many of them play for Dutch sides like PSV Eindhoven, Den Bosch or Sparta Rotterdam.

Likewise, Cape Verde, who are also making their debut on this stage, have players who earn a living at the likes of Trabzonspor, Sporting Lisbon and Ludogorets. It would be folly to underestimate them.

Haiti (making a first appearance since 1974) or New Zealand (first since 2010) may be more straightforward.

Scotland will do well to avoid Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the reigning world champions 

Will the fixtures and venues be announced immediately?

No. While the date and order of games will be known as soon as the draw is made, the venues and kick-off times will not be confirmed until the following day. But, with the Tartan Army having waited 27 years to book flights and hotels to the Greatest Show on Earth, what’s another day?

BEST CASE SCENARIO: Canada, Australia, SCOTLAND, Haiti.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: Argentina, Morocco, SCOTLAND, Italy.