The FIFA World Cup draw is one of the most important events before the tournament begins. It shapes the journey of every team. The 2026 World Cup will be special. It will feature a record 48 teams. The tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The draw will take place on Friday, December 5. It will be held at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The event will begin at 12 noon local time. That is 17:00 GMT. Fans across the world will watch closely as the groups are decided.
How the Draw and Seeding Will Work
The draw will start with Pot 1. It has the 12 seeded teams. These include the top four ranked teams. They are Spain, Argentina, France and England. The next five seeded teams are Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal. The three host nations, Canada, Mexico and the USA, are also in Pot 1.
Canada will be placed in Group B. Mexico will go to Group A. The USA will be in Group D. The other nine seeded teams will be spread across the remaining nine groups.
The draw will then move to Pots 2, 3 and 4. Each team’s name will be placed inside a plastic ball. Officials will draw one ball at a time to form each group. In general, no group will have more than one team from the same confederation. UEFA teams are the only exception.
Teams Qualified for FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
So far, 42 teams have qualified. The remaining six spots will be decided through playoffs in March 2026. Uzbekistan are in Pot 3. Jordan, Cape Verde and Curacao are in Pot 4.
The top four seeds will also get an extra advantage. If they top their groups, they will not face each other until the semifinals. Argentina and Spain can only meet in the final.
Iran will boycott the draw. This follows visa issues. The US has announced a travel ban on 12 countries, including Iran. Exemptions were promised for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the secretary of state”.
The draw will be shown live on FIFA.com and FIFA’s social media platforms.
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