Your country has qualified for the 2026 World Cup. You must be eager to see your nation compete against the world’s elite. But the burning question remains: how will the teams know who they will be up against?
The grandest version of this global sporting event is scheduled for next summer, from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
As many teams have claimed their places, there are still more awaiting their fate in the upcoming weeks. Once the final lineup is complete, the next step will involve dividing the 48 spots into 12 groups of four teams each. The objective is straightforward: advance to the knockout stages with hopes towards the finals.
When and Where is the Draw?
The draw is set to occur at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on December 5 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.
Seeding of Teams
The 48 qualified teams will be divided into “pots” using criteria such as FIFA rankings and confederation rules. We expect to know 42 of those teams by December, while the final six will be confirmed by March 2026.
The three host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—will be allotted specific groups to ensure their matches take place in their home grounds.
Draw Procedure
Each team’s name is inscribed on a slip of paper and placed in a ball within large glass vessels identified as pots 1 to 4. A host will draw one ball from each pot, reveal the slip, and announce the country.
Subsequently, a computer will randomly assign the drawn teams to their respective groups, adhering to the existing geographical regulations for the event. Thus, all teams will identify their opponents, the venues for their matches, and their pathway to the knockout rounds.
Schedule of the World Cup
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| 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 Play-Off | July 18 |
| Final | July 19 |
Qualified Teams
The list of teams that have successfully qualified:
- Algeria (5 appearances)
- Australia (7 appearances)
- Argentina (19 appearances)
- Brazil (23 appearances)
- Canada (3 appearances)
- Cape Verde (debut in 2026)
- Colombia (6 appearances)
- Ecuador (5 appearances)
- Egypt (4 appearances)
- England (16 appearances)
- Ghana (5 appearances)
- Iran (7 appearances)
- Ivory Coast (4 appearances)
- Japan (8 appearances)
- Jordan (debut in 2026)
- Mexico (18 appearances)
- Morocco (7 appearances)
- New Zealand (3 appearances)
- Paraguay (8 appearances)
- Qatar (2 appearances)
- Senegal (4 appearances)
- South Africa (4 appearances)
- South Korea (12 appearances)
- Tunisia (7 appearances)
- Uruguay (14 appearances)
- United States (12 appearances)
- Uzbekistan (debut in 2026)
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