The draw for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup will take place this Friday at 5 p.m. Placed in Pot 2, Senegal will learn their opponents. The Lions of Teranga could be drawn into a very tough group, or one within their reach. Here are the best and worst possible draws for Pape Thiaw's men.

The best draw

If Rio Ferdinand, who will conduct the draw, is kind to Senegal, the Lions could be drawn against one of the host countries: Canada, Mexico, or the United States. On paper, they are clearly weaker than the other teams in Pot 1, such as France, Spain, or the reigning world champions, Argentina.

If Senegal draws a host nation from CONCACAF, they could be drawn against an Asian, Oceanian, or European team from the other pots. In Pot 3, Uzbekistan appears to be the most manageable opponent on paper. In Pot 4, New Zealand could be a very beatable opponent for Senegal.

The best draw:

Canada - Senegal - Uzbekistan - New Zealand

The worst draw

At the draw, Senegal could instead be drawn into a daunting group. In Pot 1, Spain, the tournament favorites, will be the team to avoid. Argentina, notoriously difficult to beat, could also be a tough opponent. In Pot 3, Norway appears to be the strongest team, along with other challenging adversaries like Saudi Arabia. In Pot 4, several teams are yet to be determined, but the European play-off winner could potentially be Italy.

The worst draw

Spain - Senegal - Saudi Arabia - European Play-off 1 (potentially Italy)

Or

Argentina - Senegal - Norway - European Play-off 1 (potentially Italy)

Here is the composition of the 4 hats

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

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

Pot 3 : Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa

Pot 4 : Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-off 1, European Play-off 2, European Play-off 3, European Play-off 4, Intercontinental Play-off 1, Intercontinental Play-off 2