"The top-seeded teams for the Dec. 5 World Cup tournament draw, including Germany but not Croatia, were set Wednesday when FIFA published new rankings the day after four continents completed qualifying. Co-hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico will be joined in the pot of No. 1 seeds by top-ranked Spain, defending champion Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany."
"The updated FIFA rankings also decided seeding for the draw Thursday for playoff brackets in March that will decide the final six entries in the expanded 48-nation lineup. The 22 playoffs teams include 16 in Europe playing for four World Cup places and six from the other regions chasing two spots in the intercontinental brackets. Italy is the headliner in the European brackets as the four-time world champion aims to avoid a humiliating third straight exit in the playoffs."
FIFA published updated rankings after four continents completed qualifying, establishing pot 1 seeds for the Dec. 5 World Cup draw and determining playoff seedings. Co-hosts United States, Canada and Mexico join Spain, Argentina, France, England, Portugal, Brazil, the Netherlands and Belgium alongside Germany as top-seeded teams, while Croatia dropped into pot 2. The rankings also set March playoff brackets involving 22 teams competing for six final places, with 16 European sides contesting four spots and six teams from other regions contesting two intercontinental spots. Italy enters the playoffs after finishing runner-up to Norway.
Read at ESPN.com
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