The Socceroos are to be drawn from pot two for the 2026 World Cup, helping them avoid second-tier powers such as Croatia, Morocco and Colombia in the group stage for the tournament in North America beginning in June.

Fifa released the procedures for the draw on Wednesday, confirming Tony Popovic’s team have secured a place among the higher seeds despite three recent losses against the USA, Venezuela and Colombia.

World football’s governing body decided higher ranked teams coming out of the final round of playoffs would not interfere with the seedings of the teams already qualified, meaning countries such as Italy – ranked 12 in the world – are set to be placed in pot four, traditionally reserved for the weakest qualifiers.

The Socceroos are ranked 26 in the world, and finished just above the cut-off between pots two and three. Norway – who thrashed Italy 4-1 last week – are the highest ranked team in pot three at 29.

The 2026 tournament has expanded to 48 teams, and its 12 groups will feature one nation from each pot. The teams that finish in the top two of each group progress to the knockout stage, as well as the eight best third-placed teams.

Australia’s group will contain one team from pot one, which features the three hosts Canada, Mexico and the US as well as the world’s best sides including holders Argentina, Brazil and European powers such as France, Germany and England.

The Socceroos’ possible opponents from pot three include Scotland – at their first World Cup finals since 1998 – Paraguay – who finished the Conmebol qualifiers on the same number of points as Brazil – and African Cup of Nations winners Côte d’Ivoire.

The Socceroos have reached the knockout stage just twice in six appearances at the World Cup finals, in 2006 and 2022. However, they will be expected to achieve the same given the 2026’s expanded tournament, which will eliminate just 16 of the 48 teams in the group stage.

The draw will be held on 5 December in Washington (in the early hours of 6 December Australian time), and the match schedule will be confirmed the following day.

Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany

Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia

Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, Fifa Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2