The soccer community is gathering in Washington, D.C. for a pivotal event—the draw for next summer’s World Cup. As anticipation builds, the teams are finalizing their spots for this massive 48-team competition. The results will shape their journeys towards the final in MetLife Stadium on July 19.
Here’s a breakdown of the draw pots:
- 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
- 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
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host the event featuring a lineup of notable figures including comedian Kevin Hart, supermodel Heidi Klum, actor Danny Ramirez, and ex-England international Samantha Johnson to oversee the draw. NFL stars Tom Brady and Eli Manning, NHL great Wayne Gretzky, NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal, and MLB player Aaron Judge will also attend, alongside live performances by tenor Andrea Bocelli, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and the Village People.
This event is reminiscent of the glamorous 1994 World Cup draw held in Las Vegas, a moment that introduced soccer to the U.S. with flair and drama. Stories from figures like ex-U.S. Soccer president Alan Rothenberg, racer Mario Andretti, supermodel Carol Alt, and former FIFA president Sepp Blatter will reveal the behind-the-scenes action and drama from 32 years ago.
For more insights, check out our detailed exploration on the 1994 World Cup draw, which may have fundamentally altered soccer’s trajectory in the U.S.
