The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., FIFA confirmed. The ceremony is scheduled for noon ET and will set the stage for the first-ever 48-team edition of football’s biggest tournament.
US President Donald Trump, speaking alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, said: “The Kennedy Center will give it a phenomenal kick-off. And we’ll be involved.”
The expanded format sees the tournament grow from 32 to 48 teams, with host nations Mexico, Canada, and the United States automatically seeded into Groups A1, B1, and D1.
By the time of the draw, 42 of the 48 participating teams will have already secured qualification. The remaining six spots will be decided in March 2026 through FIFA’s intercontinental play-off tournament.
The draw will determine the group stage matchups, shaping the path for teams and fans in what is set to be the largest World Cup in history, spanning three host nations and dozens of venues across North America.
–Input WAM
