UPDATE: The United States have drawn into Group F for the 2019 Women’s World Cup, where they will face Thailand, Chile, and Sweden. Australia, home to three Seattle Reign FC players, are in Group C and will face Italy, Brazil, and Jamaica. Jodie Taylor’s England are at the top of Group D, and will meet Kim Little and Scotland, Argentina, and Japan — home to Reign FC’s Rumi Utsugi and Naho Kawasumi. Adriana Leon and Canada are in Group E, where they will take on Cameroon, New Zealand, and Netherlands.

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On Saturday, December 8, the defending Women’s World Cup champions will learn their opponents in the opening round of the 2019 World Cup in France. After earning their third star in 2015, Seattle Reign FC’s Megan Rapinoe and the U.S. will be one step closer on the path to back-to-back titles.

The World Cup may be seven months away — kicking off June 7, 2019 — but there is still plenty of roster decisions to be made until then. Knowing their opponents will be one fewer thing for squads to fret over in the months leading up to the competition.

A number of Reign FC players will be paying special attention to the draw, as it impacts their chances at the World Cup. Rapinoe and Allie Long may both have a chance to represent the U.S. (with Long being a, well, longer shot). Steph Catley, Lydia Williams, and Elise Kellond-Knight should be suiting up for Australia, who made it into Pot 1 after strong performances in recent years. Adriana Leon’s Canada will be eager to know their Group Stage fate, as will Jodie Taylor for England and Rumi Utsugi and Naho Kawasumi for Japan.

Who is in the 2019 World Cup?

The pots for the 2019 women’s World Cup draw were confirmed Friday when FIFA released its December FIFA rankings:

Pot 1: France, United States, Germany, England, Canada, Australia
Pot 2: Japan, Brazil, Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, Norway
Pot 3: South Korea, China, Italy, Scotland, New Zealand, Thailand
Pot 4: Argentina, Nigeria, Chile, Jamaica, Cameroon, South Africa

How does the draw work?

FIFA Women’s World Cup Draw determines which teams will face each other in the Group Stage. Pot 1 is emptied first, with France automatically in slot A1, the second top seed drawn going to B1, the third to C1, etc. Pot 2 follows, with the first team drawn going to Group A. When Pot 2 is emptied, organizers move onto the next.

No two teams from the same confederation can be placed in a group together, with the exception of Europe, which can go two-to-a-group. Also, each group must include at least one of the nine European participants.

Here is just one example to bring this to life: If Japan (from Pot 2) has joined France in Group A, and the first team to be pulled out of Pot 3 is South Korea, the Koreans will need to go to Group B — as long as Australia isn’t already there, in which case they’d jump to Group C.

When does the draw take place?

Saturday, December 8, 2018, 9 AM PT (18:00 Paris time)

How can I watch it?

TV: Fox Sports 2, Telemundo/Universo
Livestream: FIFATV on YouTube, Fox Sports Go, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo

Group Results

Group A

France
Korea Republic
Norway
Nigeria

Group B

Germany
China
Spain
South Africa

Group C

Australia
Italy
Brazil
Jamaica

Group D

England
Scotland
Argentina
Japan

Group E

Canada
Cameroon
New Zealand
Netherlands

Group F

United States
Thailand
Chile
Sweden

Join the Conversation

This is your FIFA Women’s World Cup Draw livestream. Join us for group updates and conversations about the competition for the U.S. and your other favorite countries.