The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will occur on Friday at 12 p.m. ET at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.. This significant event precedes the much-anticipated summer tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which kicks off on June 11, 2026, at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, culminating on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York City.
When is the draw taking place?
The draw will determine group-stage paths for 42 secured teams, including the hosts, along with revealing positions for six additional contenders from playoffs to be held in March 2026.
FIFA has stated that the draw will see prominent co-hosts like Heidi Klum, Kevin Hart, and Danny Ramirez leading the event.
How to watch the draw
Date: Friday, December 5 | Time: 12 p.m. ET | Location: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — Washington, D.C. | TV: Fox | Live stream: Fubo
Draw structure
The hosts will be evenly positioned in the draw, while other top-ranked teams will fill the remaining spots in each group for a fair competition. Selecting teams from various confederations will ensure no two teams from the same federation (except UEFA) are grouped together.
Qualified teams snapshot
Currently, 42 out of 48 spots are filled, with the following teams confirmed:
- Hosts: United States, Mexico, Canada
- AFC Qualifiers: Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
- Concacaf Qualifiers: Haiti, Curacao, Panama
- OFC Qualifier: New Zealand
- CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay
- CAF Qualifiers: Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast
- UEFA Qualifiers: England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, Austria, Belgium
World Cup pots
The draw will categorize the teams into four pots based on rankings, including pending playoff teams. The pots will ensure competitive balance leading up to the tournament.
Upcoming playoffs
Scheduled to take place during the March International break in 2026, these playoffs will finalize the remaining qualifications for the World Cup.
