DRAW DAY LOOMS: SPECIAL EAGLES AWAIT MEXICO 2026 WORLD CUP OPPONENTS

--Nigeria placed in Pot 3 as 24 nations prepare to discover their group-stage opponents

The wait is almost over for Nigeria’s Special Eagles as the country’s Amputee Football National Team prepares to discover its group-stage opponents at the 2026 World Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.

The official draw is scheduled to take place today, Saturday, September 26, in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, with proceedings expected to begin at 6:00 p.m. Nigerian time.

A total of 24 qualified nations are set to discover their respective routes through the group stage of the tournament, which will be held from November 13 to 22, 2026.

Nigeria has been placed in Pot 3, alongside Iran, Liberia, Ghana, the United States and Germany.

The four pots for the draw are:

Pot 1: Mexico, Turkey, Angola, Brazil, England and Uzbekistan.

Pot 2: Morocco, Italy, Poland, Japan, Spain and Colombia.

Pot 3: Iran, Liberia, Ghana, USA, Germany and Nigeria.

Pot 4: Uruguay, Iraq, Ukraine, Egypt, Algeria and Costa Rica.

With Nigeria in Pot 3, the Special Eagles cannot face another team from the same pot in the group stage. Instead, they will be drawn against teams from the other pots, meaning Nigeria could face one opponent each from Pots 1, 2 and 4.

That creates several possible combinations for the Nigerian side.

The Special Eagles could be handed a group containing hosts Mexico, one of the established powers in the competition, or a familiar African opponent from another pot.

However, those possibilities will remain speculation until the official draw is conducted.

Nigeria earned its place at the 2026 World Cup following its performance at the 2024 African Amputee Football Cup of Nations in Egypt, where the Special Eagles finished fourth and secured one of Africa’s qualification places.

Nigeria will be joined at the World Cup by other African qualifiers, including Ghana, Morocco, Angola, Liberia, Egypt and Algeria.

Preparations Continue

The draw comes as Nigeria continues preparations for the global tournament.

The Special Eagles are already in camp, with the players and technical crew continuing their training programme ahead of the November competition.

Knowing their group opponents will give the technical team a clearer picture of what awaits them and allow preparations to be further tailored to the tactical and physical demands of the group stage.

For Nigeria, the tournament also represents a return to a familiar destination.

The Special Eagles made their first appearance at the World Cup in Mexico in 2018. Eight years later, the Nigerian team will return to the same country with another opportunity to compete against the world's leading amputee football nations.

The experience gained from previous African championships and international competitions will now be tested on the global stage.

For the players, coaches and supporters back home, today's draw represents another major step on the journey to Mexico 2026.

One question has dominated the build-up since Nigeria secured qualification:

Who will stand in the Special Eagles' way in Mexico?

By 6:00 p.m. Nigerian time, the waiting will be over.

The pots are confirmed.

The teams are ready.

The draw will determine the groups.

And for Nigeria's Special Eagles, the road to the 2026 World Cup is about to become much clearer.