The move increases the likelihood of a rematch of the Qatar 2022 final between Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappe's France.

Argentina, as the No.2-ranked team, has been paired with rankings leader Spain and put on opposite sides of the draw, assuming they both win their groups.

France is ranked No.3, with England No.4, and those two, who met in the quarter-finals in Qatar, are also provisionally paired.

It means that should all four teams top their first-round pools and continue to progress, Argentina would face France or England in the semi-finals, with Spain facing the other.

For Argentina and France to renew their rivalry then, the draw – which takes place on 6 December (AEDT)  – would have to set the world champion on course for a last-four meeting with England.

Argentina beat France on penalties in the previous final after an epic 3-3 draw, with Messi celebrating another incredible high in his remarkable career despite Mbappe's hat-trick.

Another potential final match-up is England versus Spain, a repeat of the UEFA Euro 2024 decider won by La Roja.

The pots for the draw were also confirmed as the top four teams were joined in pot one by Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well as hosts United States, Mexico and Canada.

Croatia, Colombia, Uruguay and Senegal are among the teams in the second pot, with Norway a possible threat in the third.

Half of pot four is still to be determined as it will include four play-off winners from Europe, along with the two inter-confederation victors.