When is the World Cup draw scheduled?
The World Cup draw will take place at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center on Friday, December 5, starting at 12 PM local time (5 PM GMT/4 AM AEST on Saturday). If you join late, don’t fret! Similar to past draws, there will likely be a series of speeches about FIFA’s mission to foster world peace through football, along with interpretive dance performances celebrating this purpose, heartwarming videos featuring children kicking balls, and, hopefully, FIFA’s actual efforts toward global harmony through the sport. In case you miss any part of it, FIFA will also present a peace prize to an individual deemed likely to promote peace in the upcoming months (more details on that shortly). Eventually, teams will be grouped, and the much-anticipated tournament schedule will be unveiled.
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How will the draw process work?
A total of 48 teams will be categorized into four pots, each containing 12 teams. Pot 1 includes the three co-hosts—USA, Mexico, and Canada—along with the nine top teams ranked highest in the current FIFA standings. The remaining pots are filled according to FIFA rankings, with the lowest-ranked teams settled in Pot 4. Each of the 12 World Cup groups will then consist of one team from each pot (full pot listings will follow).
Seems straightforward!
Not exactly. There are still six qualification spots up for grabs through playoffs in late March, and the teams involved will be placed in Pot 4. For instance, Italy, despite being a four-time World Cup champion and currently ranked 12th globally, will be treated as a lower-tier opponent if they secure their playoff spot. Additionally, teams from the same qualifying confederation are generally kept apart, but UEFA will have 16 representatives in the draw, making it tricky for European sides. Each group will include a maximum of two European teams. Furthermore, the top four teams in the FIFA rankings—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—will not compete against each other until the semi-finals, assuming they advance from their groups.
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Can I start marking my calendar after the draw?
Not just yet. FIFA is maximizing the weekend’s potential, with the match schedule to be announced on Saturday, December 6. This allows for optimal kick-off times and venues that would accommodate fans traveling to North America and those watching from home (for instance, earlier kick-offs tend to be better for television audiences in Europe).
Which teams have qualified so far?
A total of 42 teams have secured their spots thus far. Here is the list of qualifiers arranged by pots for the draw:
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.
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Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, alongside four European playoff teams and two intercontinental playoff teams.
For a more detailed exploration of how these teams qualified, you can check out our in-depth guide.
Related: World Cup 2026: which countries have qualified and how did they do it?
Who is competing in the playoffs?
In the European playoffs, the winner of Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina will host the victor from Italy vs. Northern Ireland for a finals spot; Ukraine vs. Sweden will play the winner of Poland vs. Albania; Slovakia vs. Kosovo will host the winner of Turkey vs. Romania; and the winner of the Czech Republic vs. Republic of Ireland will take on the victor of Denmark vs. North Macedonia.
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In the intercontinental playoffs set to take place in Mexico, New Caledonia will face Jamaica, with the winner playing DR Congo for a finals berth. Additionally, the winner of Bolivia vs. Suriname will compete against Iraq for the final spot. All playoffs will be single-elimination matches.
Feeling adventurous? Want to predict a ‘Group of Death’?
Absolutely! Speculation is all we can do until the actual World Cup kicks off next year. Hypothetically, you could see Argentina, Morocco, Italy, and Norway drawn into one group, combining teams ranked No. 1, No. 11, No. 12, and No. 29 in the world. It’s worth noting that Norway, the lowest-ranked among them, won all eight of their qualifiers, scoring 37 goals along the way.
Who will conduct the draw?
The presenters have yet to be announced, but Idris Elba led the draw for Qatar 2022, so we might expect someone with no affiliations to the host nations. Additionally, it’s highly likely that several famous retired players will take the stage for brief interactions before selecting teams from a plastic globe.
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How can I follow the draw?
The best option is to follow The Guardian’s liveblog, which will be live here a couple of hours before the ceremony begins. You can also watch it on FIFA’s official website or its YouTube channel. In the UK, the draw will be aired on the BBC and BBC iPlayer; in the US, it will be on Fox and Fubo; in Australia, viewers can catch it on SBS and SBS On Demand; and in Canada, it will be available on TSN.
What’s the deal with the peace prize?
Indeed. FIFA President Gianni Infantino remarked, “In a world that is increasingly unsettled and divided, it is essential to acknowledge the incredible efforts of those striving to resolve conflicts and unite people in a peaceful manner.” This prize will be awarded during the draw on Friday.
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What a lovely sentiment. I assume the prize will go to a selfless humanitarian or a heroic animal rescued from dire circumstances?
Well… rumor has it that the recipient may be none other than Donald Trump, a close friend of Infantino.
You mean the guy who recently claimed that Democrats should be punished for ‘seditious behavior’?
Exactly.
The same individual who suggested that immigrants from Haiti – who just heroically qualified for the World Cup – are prone to eating pet dogs?
That’s correct.
The same person whose administration has been accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean?
Indeed!
Ah, I see.
On a brighter note, the expanded format of this World Cup—which hosts 48 teams instead of 32—provides a platform for underdog teams with slim chances of claiming the trophy, such as Haiti, Curaçao, Cape Verde, and even England.
How exciting! When does the tournament itself begin?
The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the final taking place in New Jersey on July 19.