The anticipation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 reached new heights as President Donald Trump announced alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino that the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 final draw will take place on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States of America.
This monumental announcement, made from the Oval Office on August 22, 2025, sets the stage for football’s most significant event in recent history. The 2026 FIFA World Cup represents several groundbreaking firsts that will make this tournament unprecedented in scope and scale.
For the first time in World Cup history, 48 teams will compete instead of the traditional 32, marking a 50% expansion that promises to deliver more excitement, diversity, and global representation.
Additionally, this will be the first FIFA World Cup hosted by three nations simultaneously – the United States, Canada, and Mexico – with matches spread across 16 cities throughout North America.
FIFA World Cup 2026 final draw
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The Kennedy Center, now chaired by President Trump, will host this final draw spectacular ceremony at 12:00 PM ET, broadcasting live to an estimated global audience of over one billion viewers.
The venue choice is particularly significant, as Trump emphasized the cultural importance of bringing this “biggest event in sports” to America’s capital.
FIFA President Infantino described the upcoming tournament as featuring “104 matches in one month” – essentially “104 Super Bowls” – highlighting the unprecedented magnitude of this competition.
For American Soccer fans eagerly awaiting ticket opportunities, FIFA has confirmed that the general World Cup ticket sales will commence on September 10, 2025, exclusively for Visa cardholders initially. The first phase ticketing process will operate on the 10th and will go through multiple phases.
Information About the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Draw Date | December 5, 2025 |
| Draw Time | 12:00 PM ET (Eastern Time) |
| Venue | Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., United States |
| Total Teams | 48 teams (expanded from 32) |
| Groups Format | 12 groups of 4 teams each |
| Host Countries | United States, Canada, Mexico |
| Tournament Duration | June 11 – July 19, 2026 (39 days) |
| Opening Match | June 11, 2026 at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City |
| Final Match | July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
| Total Matches | 104 matches |
| Host Cities | 16 cities across USA, Canada, and Mexico |
| Qualified Teams (Current) | 13 teams confirmed, 42 by draw date |
| Remaining Spots | 6 teams (decided through playoffs in March 2026) |
| Ticket Sales Start | September 10, 2025 (Visa cardholders) |
| Knockout Format | 32 teams (top 2 from each group + 8 best 3rd place) |
| Expected TV Audience | Over 1 billion viewers globally |
World Cup fans can register their interest from September 10 to 19. After the FIFA World Cup 2026 final draw, a lottery system will determine selected participants, who will be given specific dates and times in October to make their purchases.
Ticket pricing reflects the tournament’s premium nature, with group stage matches ranging from $82-$259, while the final at MetLife Stadium is expected to cost between $706-$1,882. For those seeking exclusive experiences, hospitality packages are already available, starting at $1,350 for single matches, with comprehensive packages like the “U.S. Venue Series” beginning at $8,275.
Currently, 13 teams have already secured their qualification for the tournament, including the three host nations (USA, Canada, and Mexico) and 10 additional qualified teams after the qualification process: Japan, New Zealand, Iran, Argentina, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Brazil, and Ecuador. By December’s draw ceremony, 42 of the 48 participating teams will be confirmed, with the final six spots determined through intercontinental playoffs in March 2026.
The tournament format will feature 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams from each group plus the eight best third-place finishers advancing to create a 32-team knockout stage. This expansion from the traditional format necessitates 104 total matches over 39 days, significantly more than previous tournaments’ 64 matches over 32 days.
The 2026 World Cup will officially kick off on June 11, 2026, at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, with the Mexico National Football Team automatically placed in Group A. The Canada National Football team has been assigned to Group B, while the United States National Soccer team will compete in Group D. The tournament will conclude with the final on July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
This December 5, the FIFA World Cup 2026 final draw ceremony represents far more than a simple group allocation – it marks the beginning of football’s greatest spectacle, promising to deliver unprecedented excitement across three nations and set new standards for international sporting events.
2026 World Cup Draw Pots
| Pot | Teams / Entries |
|---|---|
| Pot 1 | Spain (1), Argentina (2), France (3), England (4), Brazil (5), Portugal (6), Netherlands (7), Belgium (8), Germany (9), United States (host), Mexico (host), Canada (host)Â |
| 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, UEFA Play-off A winner, UEFA Play-off B winner, UEFA Play-off C winner, UEFA Play-off D winner, FIFA / inter-confederation Play-off Tournament spot 1, FIFA / inter-confederation Play-off Tournament spot 2  |
The six play-off paths are:
- UEFA Play-off A: Italy, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland
- UEFA Play-off B: Ukraine, Poland, Albania, Sweden
- UEFA Play-off C: Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, Romania
- UEFA Play-off D: Denmark, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, North Macedonia
- Fifa Play-off 1: DR Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia
- Fifa Play-off 2: Iraq, Bolivia, Suriname
2026 World Cup Draw Results
Here is the schedule of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw results and Groups
| Groups | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, European Playoff D |
| Group B | Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, European Playoff A |
| Group C | Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti |
| Group D | USA, Australia, Paraguay, European Playoff C |
| Group E | Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao |
| Group F | Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, European Playoff B |
| Group G | Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand |
| Group H | Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde |
| Group I | France, Senegal, Norway, Intercontinental Playoff 2 |
| Group J | Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan |
| Group K | Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Intercontinental Playoff 1 |
| Group L | England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana |
Key Highlight
- Opening Match: Mexico vs South Africa – Thursday, June 11, 2026
- USA’s First Match: USA vs Paraguay – Friday, June 12, 2026 – SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
- Canada’s First Match: Canada vs UEFA Path A winner – Friday, June 12, 2026 – BMO Field, Toronto
