The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to officially launch the biggest tournament ever played. With 48 teams, three host nations, and a revamped competition structure, the ceremony in Washington, D.C. will serve as the true starting line for a World Cup unlike any other.

The event will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET, hosted at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in the U.S. capital.

The Draw Pots: How the 2026 World Cup Is Organized

FIFA has confirmed the four pots based on ranking and qualification criteria. Each of the 12 groups in the new format will include one team from each pot, ensuring balanced distribution across the field.

Pot 1 – Top Seeds

This group includes the three hosts and the highest-ranked nations:

• Canada
• Mexico
• United States
• Spain
• Argentina
• France
• England
• Brazil
• Portugal
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Germany

Pot 2

• Croatia
• Morocco
• Colombia
• Uruguay
• Switzerland
• Japan
• Senegal
• Iran
• South Korea
• Ecuador
• Austria
• Australia

Pot 3

• Norway
• Panama
• Egypt
• Algeria
• Scotland
• Paraguay
• Tunisia
• Ivory Coast
• Uzbekistan
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

Pot 4

Reserved for the lowest-ranked teams and those that qualify through the intercontinental and UEFA playoffs.

How the Draw Works

FIFA maintains strict rules to preserve geographical balance and avoid repeated confederation matchups in the group stage.

Confederation Restrictions

• No group may include two teams from the same confederation,
  except UEFA, which may have up to two per group due to its larger number of qualifiers.

Host Positions

The three hosts are already locked into their group positions:

• Mexico → A1
• Canada → B1
• United States → D1

Tournament Format: The Largest Group Stage Ever

For the first time, the World Cup will consist of:

• 12 groups of 4 teams
• The top two from each group advance
• Plus the eight best third-place teams, forming a round of 32

It is the biggest opening phase in World Cup history — designed for more matches, more storylines, and greater competitive balance.

What Happens After the Draw?

Once the groups are set, FIFA will release the official match schedule, including:

• Dates
• Kickoff times
• Stadium assignments
• City allocations across the United States, Mexico and Canada

This finalizes the roadmap for a tournament expected to break records in attendance, viewership, and global reach.

The countdown to the most ambitious World Cup ever truly begins with the draw — a moment that will define the journey of 48 nations toward football’s biggest stage.