The wait is almost over.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will take place on Friday, which will determine the 12 groups for the quadrennial tournament.
Unlike previous tournaments, 2026 will feature the first ever 48-team World Cup. It’s an increase of 16, which has allowed for smaller nations — like Curacao, Haiti, Jordan, Uzbekistan and more — to get in on the action.
So, how will the revamped tournament’s draw work? From the format and pots to how to watch and more, here’s everything to know:
When is the 2026 World Cup draw?
The draw is set for Friday, Dec. 5.
What time is the 2026 World Cup draw?
The draw will begin at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.
Where is the 2026 World Cup draw?
The John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. is the site for the draw. The venue is being paid $7.4 million.
How will the 2026 World Cup draw work?
Of the 42 qualified teams, 39 are split into four pots based on FIFA’s Nov. 2025 men’s world rankings. The three hosts — U.S., Canada, Mexico — will enter pot one. The last six teams, which will be determined by playoff qualifications to be played at a later date, will enter Pot 4.
There will be 12 groups comprised of four teams each, similar to previous tournaments. Games will be played round-robin style, with the top two teams and the eight best third-place teams advancing to the round of 32.
From there, it will be single-elimination games until the final. The teams that make the final four, including the third-place game, will play a total of eight matches now instead of seven. In total, there will be 104 games instead of 64 across the tournament.
Additionally, teams from the same confederation cannot draw each other in the group stage. The only exception is some European teams due to the number of nations involved, but only two max.
What are the pots for the 2026 World Cup draw?
Here’s a full look at how groups may be composed:
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
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Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European Play-Off A, B, C and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2
Still alive in the inter-confederation playoffs are New Caledonia, Jamaica and Congo DR on one side and Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq on the other.
Europe has the following teams vying for the last four spots, sorted by their respective playoff brackets: Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania; Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo; and Czechia, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup draw on TV, online
The draw will be available to watch in English on FOX and in Spanish on Telemundo. FIFA.com will carry a stream online.
What are the 2026 World Cup dates?
The action will last about a month and a week beginning in mid-June. Here are the dates to know:
- Group stage: June 11-27
- Round of 32: June 28 – July 3
- Round of 16: July 4-7
- Quarterfinals: July 9-11
- Semifinals: July 14-15
- Third place: July 18
- Final: July 19
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