2026 World Cup Draw Scheduled for December 5

2026 World Cup Draw Scheduled for December 5

2026 World Cup Draw Scheduled for December 5

The draw for the 2026 World Cup is set to take place on Friday, December 5, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., starting at 17:00 GMT (12:00 local time).

This edition of the World Cup will feature a record 48 nations, an increase from the previous 32 teams.

The three host countries—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—will automatically qualify, while other nations will undergo their respective qualifying campaigns.

On the same day as the draw, FIFA President Gianni Infantino will also present the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.

The tournament will be held across the USA, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

How Will the Seedings Work?

The 48 participating teams will be allocated into pots according to FIFA rankings and confederation rules.

Teams will be divided into four pots of 12, with each group containing one team from each pot.

Pot one will consist of the host nations and the nine highest-ranked teams in the FIFA world rankings.

Pots two, three, and four will include the next best-ranked teams, ensuring a balanced distribution across groups.

The host countries will be designated positions A1 for Mexico, B1 for Canada, and D1 for the USA.

Teams from the same confederation (excluding UEFA) cannot be drawn into the same group, and no more than two UEFA teams can be placed in a single group.

A total of 12 groups will be formed, each consisting of four teams.

Who Has Qualified?

As of November 12, 2025, the following teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup:

Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States

Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan

Europe: England

Oceania: New Zealand

South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

Who Will Conduct the Draw?

The identity of the individual who will conduct the draw in Washington, D.C. has not yet been disclosed, but U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to join FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the event.

Thank you to Adrian from Lincolnshire for the question.

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