It is the November rankings from the International Football Association Board (FIFA), which were released on Wednesday, that form the basis for how the teams are seeded for the World Cup draw, which will be held on December 5.
The three host nations – Mexico, the United States and Canada – are exempt and placed in the first seeding group.
The six teams that reach the World Cup via the playoff – Sweden's only remaining chance – will end up in the fourth and final seeding group. However, according to Norwegian news agency NTB, there are rumors that FIFA may adjust the rules at the last minute, so that those countries are also seeded according to world ranking.
If that happens, Sweden would, upon advancement, end up in seeding group 3.
48 teams play in the World Cup, divided into twelve groups.
Seeding, pot 1: Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, USA, Canada.
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 and six playoff teams.
