Latest Update:

11:00 am PST: Drawing Results

- Opening Match: The tournament will kick off on June 11, 2026, at the Estadio Azteca with co-hosts Mexico vs. South Africa (a rematch of the 2010 opener).
- Co-Hosts’ Paths:
  - Mexico (Group A) faces a competitive mix with South Korea and South Africa.
  - Canada (Group B) drew Switzerland and Qatar.
  - USA (Group D) was drawn with Australia and Paraguay, avoiding European heavyweights in the group stage.
- Notable Matchups:
  - Group L: Features a rematch of the 2018 semi-final between England and Croatia.
  - Group C: A nostalgic “1998 rematch” group featuring Brazil, Morocco, and Scotland.
  - Group I: Potentially the “Group of Death” with France, Senegal, and Norway.

President Donald Trump Honor

Donald Trump received the 1st ever FIFA Peace Prize. A moving speech from the President made everyone proud.

FIFA 2026 Final Draw Overview

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw happens December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This event’s a big deal—it’s the first time the tournament expands to 48 teams.

The draw decides the group stage matchups, setting the stage for what’s shaping up to be a wild event across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Date and Time of the Final Draw

The final draw goes down on Friday, December 5, 2025. That’s about 18 months before the World Cup itself kicks off, so teams get a long runway to prep.

At the time of the draw, 42 out of 48 national teams will already have their tickets punched. The remaining spots? Still up for grabs in the last qualification matches.

FIFA uses a pot-based system to organize the 48 teams into groups. They sort teams into pots based on FIFA rankings and confederation rules—pretty standard, but the stakes feel higher this time.

Location and Significance of the Kennedy Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. hosts the draw. It’s a venue with a lot of American flair and a diplomatic vibe—kind of perfect for an event uniting so many countries.

Washington, D.C., stands out as a symbolic host, since the U.S. is sharing hosting duties. The Kennedy Center has the prestige and infrastructure for a ceremony of this size, no question.

FIFA’s choice here really shows how much they value the North American market. Soccer’s on the rise in the States, and this spotlight just adds fuel to the fire.

Broadcast and Global Audience Impact

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw might just break viewership records. More teams, three hosts, and a global fan base? That’s a recipe for serious buzz.

Major networks will broadcast the event live, covering different time zones. FIFA’s also rolling out official streaming, so fans everywhere can tune in—no excuses.

With 48 teams, more countries than ever have skin in the game. That wider participation means bigger TV audiences and a social media frenzy, especially compared to older World Cup draws.

Draw Procedures and Group Formation

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw uses a system to spread 48 teams across 12 groups of four. They rely on FIFA rankings and a pot system, but also throw in rules for balance and geography.

Allocation of Pots and Draw Process

Canada, Mexico, and the USA—our three hosts—automatically land in Pot 1. The other 39 qualified teams fill out four pots of 12, based on the November 19, 2025 FIFA rankings.

Pot 1 holds the hosts plus Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Pot 2’s got Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, and Australia.

Pot 3 features Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa. Pot 4? Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, four European play-off placeholders, and two FIFA Play-Off Tournament placeholders.

They draw Pot 1 teams into groups A through L first, then move through Pots 2, 3, and 4. It’s a process, but it keeps things fair (usually).

Draw Constraints and Pathways

Mexico gets a green ball for position A1, Canada a red ball for B1, and the USA a blue ball for D1. FIFA locked these in with the match schedule released back in February 2024.

The four highest-ranked teams face special placement rules. Spain and Argentina must be on opposite paths to the semi-finals, and France and England get the same treatment. Basically, FIFA’s trying to keep the biggest guns from clashing before the final.

One more wrinkle: no group can have more than one team from the same confederation, except UEFA. With 16 European teams, each group needs at least one, but never more than two, UEFA teams.

Explanation of Group H and Group I

Group H and Group I? Just two of the 12 groups in play for 2026. Each group gets four teams, and they’ll all play each other in a round-robin during the group stage.

The draw on December 5, 2025, decides exactly which teams land in Group H and I. Like the rest, each group will end up with one team from each pot.

Confederation rules still apply. Neither group can have more than two UEFA teams, or more than one from any other confederation. Where each team lands depends on their pot and the allocation pattern FIFA’s set up.

Qualified Teams and Tournament Expansion

The 2026 FIFA World Cup jumps from 32 to 48 teams, opening the door for more nations to join the fun. The 42 teams already qualified come from all over, with six more spots waiting for playoff winners.

Host Nations: Canada, Mexico, and United States

Canada, Mexico, and the United States don’t have to sweat qualifying—they’re in as hosts. For Canada, this is just their third time at the World Cup, and their first since 1986. Mexico’s back for its 18th appearance, keeping its impressive streak alive.

The United States returns after missing out in 2018. All three hosts are splitting duties across 16 cities, which honestly sounds like a logistical headache but also pretty exciting. Automatic qualification lets them focus on the party and the prep, not the pressure of making it in.

Confirmed Qualified Teams by Region

Asia has Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Australia, and South Korea in the mix. Japan and Iran always seem to show up strong. Australia made the switch from Oceania to Asia, and it’s paying off.

South America brings Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Colombia. Argentina comes in as defending champs. Brazil? They never miss a World Cup, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Europe leads the way with Germany, France, Spain, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, Sweden, Norway, and Wales. Africa has Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, and Egypt locked in.

From Oceania, New Zealand earned its spot through their confederation pathway. Not a huge shock, but still, good for them.

Playoff Spots and Remaining Qualification Process

Six spots are still up for grabs for the 48-team tournament. These playoff matches decide who gets those last golden tickets before the action kicks off on June 11, 2026.

Teams from all over—different confederations, big and small—duke it out in these intercontinental playoffs. The expanded format? It’s honestly a breath of fresh air for fans of underdog nations.

Qualifying doesn’t wrap up until 2026, so some teams are still sweating it out. Right now, the draw moves forward with 42 confirmed teams, but the bracket’s ready and waiting for all 48 spots to fill.