意媒：FIFA考虑修改世界杯抽签分档规则，附加赛晋级队不再强制4档（意媒：FIFA或修订世界杯抽签分档，附加赛出线队不再一律归入第四档）

Analyzing FIFA World Cup formats

For the 2022 Qatar World Cup, teams were seeded based on FIFA rankings into four pots, with the host plus the top seven in Pot 1, and others divided accordingly. However, for the 2026 World Cup, I need to remember that the format has changed. Initially, there were plans for 16 groups of 3, but now it's 12 groups of 4, which requires four pots of 12 teams, including the three hosts and top-ranked teams. The intercontinental playoff has also changed, with 6 teams vying for 2 spots.Exploring the 2026 Intercontinental Playoffs

For the 2026 World Cup, the intercontinental playoff tournament includes 6 teams competing for 2 spots, with one from each confederation except UEFA, and an extra from CONCACAF because they’re hosting. The top two seeded teams based on FIFA rankings get a bye to the second round, where winners will compete for the World Cup slots. Interestingly, teams qualifying via playoffs won't automatically be placed in Pot 4 like in 2022; instead, they'll be seeded based on rankings at a later date.Examining the 2026 World Cup Draw

For 2026, there’s a possibility that the playoffs will finish before the draw, allowing winners to be seeded accurately based on their rankings. I read that some Italian media suggests FIFA might change the rules so that teams entering through playoffs aren’t automatically placed in Pot 4. Historically, during 2010-2018, playoff placeholders were unknown. For example, in 2022, due to delays like the Ukraine war, teams in some paths weren't known before the draw, resulting in placeholders being assigned to Pot 4.Discussing Seeding Proposals for 2026

The proposal is to seed playoff winners based on their rankings to ensure fairer grouping during the draw. Without knowing specifics, I think this change aims to avoid penalizing higher-ranked teams that qualify through playoffs, particularly since being placed in Pot 4 can be disadvantageous. This could help reduce extreme "groups of death." I might want to check if the user is interested in more details about the format, current rules, or qualifying slots for UEFA in 2026, which include 16 direct berths and determining the last four through playoffs.