Seedings for the 32-team tournament will be determined by the updated Fifa rankings published on 7 December, just ahead of the official draw scheduled for 11 December in Rio de Janeiro. The draw ceremony will take place at 1.30pm local time at the Museum of Modern Art, setting the path for the competition that kicks off on 24 June.

This separation rule mirrors the format used for the 2026 men's World Cup, ensuring that the highest-ranked sides avoid facing each other in the early knockout stages if they top their groups. Reining world champions Spain currently hold the number one ranking, while the USA sit second in the global standings.

The record four-time champions USA face El Salvador on 27 November in their quest to confirm their place at the tournament. A victory in that fixture, combined with no fluctuations in the rankings, would place the USA in the opposite half of the draw to Spain, preventing a meeting before the final at the Maracanã Stadium on 25 July.

England, who finished as runners-up in 2023, must overcome Ukraine over two legs on 1 and 5 December to secure their qualification. The European champions currently hold a 31-point advantage over fifth-placed Japan in the world rankings ahead of the decisive round of international fixtures.

Host nation Brazil will be automatically placed into Group A and will contest the opening match of the tournament at the Maracanã on 24 June. France and Sweden are currently projected to complete the set of eight Pot 1 seeds alongside the top-ranked teams, though ninth-placed Canada remain positioned to capitalize if any of the leading sides slip up in the rankings.

Regarding the remaining pots, the next eight highest-ranked qualified teams will form Pot 2, with the subsequent eight placed in Pot 3. Pot 4 will contain the lowest-ranked sides alongside three winners from the inter-confederation playoff tournament that concludes in March.

Tournament regulations dictate that no group may contain more than one team from the same confederation, with the exception of European nations, where a maximum of two teams from Europe will be permitted in any single group.

In addition to the tournament draw modalities, Fifa announced that the uncontested bids to host the 2031 and 2035 Women's World Cups have successfully passed their extensive evaluations. A joint bid from the US, Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica for the 2031 tournament achieved an overall score of 4.4 out of 5. Meanwhile, the UK submitted the sole bid for the 2035 edition, featuring a proposal for Wembley Stadium to host the final, and received a score of 4.3 out of 5. Both bids received praise for their infrastructure, stadiums and accommodation, with the Fifa congress expected to formally appoint the hosts on 23 November.

The 33-year-old striker will make his 126th appearance for the Three Lions, moving past the previous record of 125 caps held by former goalkeeper Peter Shilton, which has stood since 1990.

The milestone marks the conclusion of a significant year for the Bayern Munich forward, who was awarded the Ballon d'Or in October, becoming the first English player to receive the honour in 25 years.

Kane's leadership has been central to England's recent international campaigns, with the forward serving as a mentor for the squad's emerging generation of talent.

The match at Wembley Stadium serves as a pivotal fixture in the Nations League group stage, with England looking to secure a positive result under their captain's record-breaking leadership.

Following this encounter, the England squad will continue their preparations for upcoming international fixtures as they look to maintain their standing in the competition.

An official statement confirmed the withdrawal on Monday, stating that both Van Dijk and Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey did not return fit from their weekend club matches. The statement noted that the two players are unavailable for the international fixtures, leaving the squad with 23 players.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola will be monitoring the situation ahead of his side's match against Manchester United at Anfield. The team's first fixture following the November international break is scheduled for a week on Sunday.

The 35-year-old defender has been a regular fixture for Liverpool throughout the current season. He has made 15 appearances across all competitions, starting 14 of those matches and missing just a single game so far.

In addition to Van Dijk, goalkeeper Alisson Becker will also remain with Liverpool during the international window after Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti opted against selecting him for friendlies against Japan and Singapore. Ancelotti explained that the coaching staff already knows the goalkeeper's capabilities and intends to use the matches to observe younger players.

The Brazil manager stated that testing Alisson is unnecessary because his qualities are already well known to the technical staff. Ancelotti added that the experienced goalkeeper will be called upon when the Copa America begins, mirroring the approach for other senior squad members. The current focus for the Brazilian national team involves observing new talent, refreshing the overall squad setup, and helping younger players reach their full potential during these upcoming fixtures in Asia.

Captain Martin Odegaard provided the decisive moment in the 72nd minute, reacting quickest to tap in the rebound after Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis spilled a shot from Noni Madueke. The goal broke the resistance of a disciplined visitors' side that had frustrated the hosts for much of the afternoon.

The match was not without controversy, as Arsenal were denied a penalty shortly before half-time. Referee Farai Hallam initially consulted the VAR monitor regarding a shirt-pull on Kai Havertz by Nobel Mendy, but the decision was overturned after it was determined that Havertz was in an offside position.

Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic had set his side up in a 5-3-2 formation, aiming to stifle the Arsenal attack. The visitors created early opportunities, with John Egan heading wide from a corner and Elliot Stroud forcing a save from David Raya.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made several second-half substitutions to inject energy into his side, introducing Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres. The pressure eventually told when Odegaard capitalised on the loose ball to secure the three points.

The victory marks Arsenal's seventh consecutive home win in the league and sees them match their record tally of 27 points from the opening 10 matches of a Premier League season.

Brief scores: Arsenal 1 (Odegaard 72') beat Hull City 0.

City were forced to respond twice after being pegged back by the German side, eventually securing the points through Haaland’s decisive finish from an Elliot Anderson cross. The result moves City to seventh in the standings after four matches.

The visitors initially took the lead in the 37th minute when a Castello Lukeba own goal broke the deadlock. Leipzig responded early in the second half through Ridle Baku, before Enzo Fernández restored City's advantage in the 58th minute.

Leipzig equalised for a second time via Antonio Nusa, who capitalised on a pass from Christopher Nkunku. Haaland, who had been relatively quiet throughout the contest, then arrived at the back post to settle the match with his 13th touch.

Speaking after the match, Haaland emphasised the need for his team to show more ruthlessness in front of goal. He noted that the side must work on their collective play and ability to kill off games earlier when in a leading position.

Manager Enzo Maresca expressed satisfaction with the result, particularly following back-to-back Premier League defeats against Aston Villa and Brighton. He acknowledged the difficulty of playing away in Germany but praised his team's response to the pressure.

The victory marks Haaland's 13th goal in nine career appearances against RB Leipzig, making them his most frequent victims in professional football. The striker has now scored 62 goals in 61 Champions League appearances.

Leipzig, managed by former City defender Martin Demichelis, tested goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma throughout the evening. Both sides hit the woodwork in the closing stages as the game remained open until the final whistle.

City will now look to carry this momentum into their upcoming domestic fixtures. The squad is scheduled to return to action in three days, with the manager highlighting the importance of maintaining focus as they navigate a busy calendar.

The breakthrough arrived in the 54th minute when Lennart Karl capitalized on a defensive lapse inside the penalty area. Tom Bischof had seen his initial effort blocked by Robin Le Normand, but Karl reacted sharply to rob the Spanish defender of possession before firing past goalkeeper Jan Oblak to break the deadlock.

Konrad Laimer then doubled the advantage in the 74th minute with a thunderous strike from a tight angle. England captain Harry Kane spotted Laimer's surging run across the pitch and delivered a precise, clipped pass that allowed the Austrian midfielder to control the ball, survey his options, and drive a powerful effort off the crossbar and into the roof of the net.

Reflecting on his second-half goal after the match, Laimer expressed his delight with the execution of the finish. He said that after receiving the outstanding pass from Kane, he took an extra moment to compose himself before striking the ball cleanly, noting that he could tell instantly from the moment it left his boot that it was going to be a successful attempt.

The hosts had earlier squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead on the half-hour mark when Alexander Sørloth failed to sort out his feet at the back post following a dangerous delivery from Marc Pubill. Julian Alvarez also threatened early on for Atletico, curling an effort narrowly wide of Manuel Neuer's far post within the opening three minutes of the contest.

Despite dominating possession in the first half without managing a shot on target, Bayern absorbed the pressure well and stepped up the tempo after the restart. Joshua Kimmich tested Oblak shortly after the interval, while Dayot Upamecano had a header from a corner disallowed for a foul in the 82nd minute as the visitors pushed for a third.

The result marks Bayern's first win in the Champions League since their opening-week triumph against Bodo/Glimt, lifting the pressure following recent draws in Europe. Aaron Danks expressed satisfaction with the resilient performance from a depleted squad that entered the fixture following a demanding domestic encounter in Der Klassiker over the weekend.

Bayern will now turn their attention back to domestic duties as they prepare for a trip to face Mainz on Saturday. Atletico Madrid will look to regroup in their upcoming fixtures after failing to break down a resolute German defense led by a standout defensive display from Upamecano.

Zverev has long been a fixture near the top of the sport, and his recent success in capturing two major titles in a single season has finally propelled him past his competitors. Long-term injury layoffs for Jannik Sinner, who has not featured since the Wimbledon final in July, and Carlos Alcaraz opened the door for Zverev to depose the Italian from the apex.

Behind the new world number one, Carlos Alcaraz occupies the third position in the rankings standings. The chasing group features Ben Shelton in fourth, Daniil Medvedev in fifth, and Flavio Cobolli holding firm in sixth place.

Further down the elite list, Arthur Fils has climbed one position to achieve a new career-high ranking of seventh. American player Frances Tiafoe follows closely behind in eighth position after maintaining his competitive form through the late-season indoor events.

Alex de Minaur used a strong run to the final at the Vienna tournament to elevate his standing to ninth in the world. Meanwhile, Rafael Jodar secured a historic top-ten debut, completing a rapid ascent through the professional tennis ranks despite a challenging outing in Basel.

The battle for the remaining qualification spots for the prestigious ATP Finals intensifies as the season draws to its conclusion. With only the Paris Masters left before the year-end tournament, players outside the automatic qualification places, including Novak Djokovic who sits 12th in the live rankings, face a narrow window to secure their places at the elite showcase.

Sindhu secured the championship on Sunday with a commanding 21-12, 21-14 victory over Denmark's Line Hojmark Kjaersfeldt. The former world champion controlled the final from the outset, sealing the win in 39 minutes to add another BWF World Tour title to her illustrious career.

The commanding performance in the final highlighted Sindhu's precision and tactical awareness on the court. Utilizing her extensive reach and superior court coverage, the Indian player kept the eighth seed under constant pressure throughout the contest.

Reflecting on her recent schedule, Sindhu has maintained a demanding run of tournaments across the international circuit. Her recent performances include winning the Japan Open in July and finishing as the runner-up at the French Open just a week prior to her success in Germany.

Following her latest triumph, the experienced campaigner has chosen to bypass the Korea Open, scheduled from November 3 to 8. She will also sit out the subsequent Japan Masters, which runs from November 10 to 15, to manage her workload and physical recovery.

The decision allows the double Olympic medallist crucial rest time during a packed BWF World Tour calendar. Competitors frequently balance heavy tournament commitments with necessary recovery periods to maintain peak performance for major championships later in the season.

The result lifts the Gunners significantly in the standings, though the post-match discussion centred heavily on a series of controversial video assistant referee incidents. Both managers and numerous pundits highlighted major talking points involving penalties and potential red cards throughout the 90 minutes.

The game's first major flashpoint arrived in the opening half when Liverpool forward Alexander Isak was pulled back by Jurrien Timber inside the penalty area. Neither the on-field officials nor the VAR team awarded a penalty, despite the defender visibly stretching an arm out to impede Isak's attempt to head the ball.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola expressed clear frustration after the final whistle regarding the incident involving Isak. He argued that the failure to award a spot-kick was incorrect and suggested that modern forwards are unfortunately forced to exaggerate contact to receive fair decisions from officials.

Defender Virgil van Dijk also shared his dismay over the missed penalty decision. He questioned the effectiveness of the extensive camera coverage if obvious infractions inside the box go unpunished by the review system during crucial moments of high-profile matches.

Later in the first half, Liverpool appealed for a second penalty when Christos Tzolis appeared to place his hands on Cody Gakpo's hips as the Dutch forward went down. Once again, the appeals were waved away by the referee and ignored by the VAR officials.

Late in the second half, tempers flared between Noni Madueke and Alexis Mac Allister following a foul by the Liverpool midfielder on Martin Odegaard. Mac Allister slapped Odegaard on the back of the head as he walked away, prompting a confrontation between Madueke and the Argentine.

Mac Allister went down holding his face after he and Madueke touched foreheads, leading to a VAR review for potential violent conduct. The video officials correctly judged that Madueke applied no force in the coming together, resulting in a yellow card for Mac Allister and no dismissal for the Arsenal winger.

Pundits were unanimous in their criticism of the Liverpool midfielder's reaction to the forehead-to-forehead contact. Observers described the theatrical fall as embarrassing and commended the VAR setup for refusing to penalize Madueke with an unwarranted red card.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta offered no comment on the penalty incidents, noting that he had not yet reviewed the footage in detail. The Gunners will now turn their attention to their upcoming fixtures as they look to maintain momentum at the top of the table.

The result marks a significant milestone for Arsenal, who recorded their first league win at the venue since September 2012. The victory was built on a disciplined defensive performance that successfully stifled Liverpool's attacking efforts throughout the contest.

Havertz struck early in the first half, finishing a move that set the tone for the remainder of the game. Despite sustained pressure from the hosts in the second half, the Arsenal backline remained resolute, limiting Liverpool to very few clear-cut chances.

The match saw moments of tension, with several players receiving cautions as both sides battled for control. Liverpool struggled to find a breakthrough, failing to register a shot on target until late in the second half, which highlighted the effectiveness of Arsenal's organization.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta utilized his bench effectively in the closing stages, introducing fresh legs to manage the game and secure the three points. The win reinforces Arsenal's position as a serious contender for the league title this season.

Liverpool, under the management of Andoni Iraola, found it difficult to break down the disciplined Arsenal structure. Despite late attempts to force an equalizer, the home side was unable to penetrate the visitors' defense, ending their hopes of securing a result.

Brief scores: Liverpool 0, Arsenal 1 (Havertz 16).

Fabio Silva struck in the 89th minute to salvage a point for the visitors, leaving both sides on 18 points after nine matches, though Bayern retained top spot on goal difference. The high-stakes clash lived up to its billing with a flurry of missed chances, woodwork strikes, and unfortunate injuries at the Allianz Arena.

In a rollercoaster first half, Bayern saw Michael Olise hit the post while Ismael Saibari squandered a golden opportunity before Dortmund had a goal disallowed by the video assistant referee. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 38th minute when Konrad Laimer reacted quickest to bundle home the rebound after his initial shot was blocked by Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

The hosts suffered a significant blow midway through the first period when Ismael Saibari sustained a serious injury following a heavy collision with Gregor Kobel as the Moroccan international chased down a one-on-one opportunity. Serge Gnabry was forced off shortly after with a fresh physical issue, further depleting the attacking options available on the bench.

Bayern held their slender advantage into the interval despite the mounting physical setbacks, but Dortmund emerged with renewed purpose for the second period. Serhou Guirassy drew the visitors level on the hour mark with a clinical finish, punishing a brief lapse in concentration within the home team's defensive structure.

Parity lasted only six minutes as Bayern responded immediately through Dayot Upamecano, who tapped in from close range following intelligent setup play from Harry Kane. The England captain had earlier squandered a golden opportunity to double the advantage from the penalty spot in the 56th minute, sending his effort crashing against the crossbar.

The afternoon proved immensely frustrating for the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, who struggled to make his usual decisive impact and later saw a low shot bounce off the upright. Bayern's woodwork misery continued throughout the contest, with Michael Olise and late substitute Lennart Karl both denied by the frame of the goal as the champions piled on the pressure.

Lennart Karl entered the fray late in the game for the hobbled Michael Olise, who joined the injury list in the dying embers of the fixture to cap a miserable night for the medical staff. Karl nearly snatched a late winner when his stoppage-time strike rattled the crossbar, but Dortmund's resolute defence ultimately held firm under intense pressure.

Fabio Silva's dramatic equaliser in the 89th minute stunned the home supporters and rewarded Niko Kovač's disciplined side for their resilience. The late strike ensured that Borussia Dortmund maintained their unbeaten start to the domestic campaign alongside their fierce rivals, sharing the spoils after a punishing encounter in Munich.

The result leaves both German giants locked together on 18 points at the top of the table after nine rounds of fixtures, with Bayern's superior goal difference keeping them in first place. The match showcased the immense quality and competitive intensity of Der Klassiker, even if both managers were left to ponder missed opportunities and mounting injury concerns.

Bayern had dominated the underlying statistics during the match, producing an expected goals tally significantly higher than their opponents while restricting Dortmund to limited opportunities. However, the inability to convert their dominance into a decisive lead proved costly as the visitors capitalised on their rare openings in the second half.

The fixture carried added significance following a turbulent week for the home side, which included Vincent Kompany's recent health scare and recovery. The squad showed immense character to reclaim the lead through Dayot Upamecano after Serhou Guirassy's equaliser, but they ultimately failed to see out the remaining minutes of the match.

Borussia Dortmund's defensive organisation largely contained Bayern's formidable frontline for long spells, despite the defensive lapses that led to Konrad Laimer's opener. Gregor Kobel produced several crucial interventions between the posts, while the goal frame frequently came to the rescue when the visiting defence was finally breached.

The draw leaves the Bundesliga title race delicately poised as the autumn schedule intensifies, with several chasing packs ready to capitalise on any further dropped points. Freiburg maintained their impressive early form by defeating Augsburg to claim third place, while RB Leipzig continued their push near the summit with a victory over Schalke.Elsewhere in the division, Werder Bremen climbed to fifth position courtesy of a comfortable win over Hoffenheim, while Bayer Leverkusen suffered consecutive defeats following a four-goal reverse against Stuttgart. Bayern Munich must now assess the extent of their injuries before turning their attention to their upcoming fixtures in both domestic and European competitions.

The 27-year-old world number 10 overcame his Italian opponent in one hour and 45 minutes at the Wiener Stadthalle. De Minaur saved a set point in the opening stanza before dominating the tiebreak and cruising through the second set.

With this victory, de Minaur becomes the ninth Australian man to achieve 350 tour-level wins, joining a prestigious list that includes Lleyton Hewitt, Rod Laver, and Pat Rafter. He reached the semi-finals of the Austrian event for the third consecutive year.

De Minaur produced a strong serving performance, landing 71 percent of his first serves and out-acing Berrettini 5-4. He noted that his rhythm on serve has been a recent focus and expressed satisfaction with his execution during the match.

"That’s been an emphasis as of late, and I do feel like I’ve got in a good rhythm on serve and feel like I’m confident with what I’m doing," de Minaur said. "Today was a great serving display from me."

The victory sets up a semi-final showdown against Alexander Zverev, who advanced by defeating Arthur Fery 6-0, 6-2. Zverev is set to become the world number one on Monday and has defeated de Minaur in their recent individual meetings.

De Minaur acknowledged the challenge of facing the incoming world number one. "That’s the types of matches that you want to be playing, against the best in the world – and right now he’s the best in the world," he said.

A win against Zverev would significantly boost de Minaur’s chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin. He is currently battling for the eighth and final qualifying spot, with only the Paris Masters remaining after the Vienna tournament.

Elsewhere in the draw, Daniil Medvedev secured his place at the ATP Finals by defeating Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 6-3. Medvedev is scheduled to face Carlos Alcaraz, who overcame Tommy Paul 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in his own quarter-final match.