The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will mark the official start of the biggest tournament in history. With 48 teams, three host nations, and a new format, the ceremony in Washington, D.C. will open a World Cup that promises a very different look and feel.
The event will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET, which is 11:00 p.m. Bangladesh Time, at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. FIFA has confirmed the four pots based on ranking and qualification. Each of the 12 groups will feature one team from each pot to keep the field balanced.
Pot 1 – Top Seeds
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 the sides that qualify through the intercontinental and UEFA playoffs.
FIFA will follow strict rules to protect geographical balance and avoid repeated matchups in the group stage. No group may have two teams from the same confederation, except UEFA, which may have up to two because it has many qualifiers.
The three hosts already have fixed places in the draw: Mexico in A1, Canada in B1, and the United States in D1.
The World Cup will feature 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group will advance. The eight best third-place teams will also advance to form the round of 32. This will be the biggest group stage the competition has ever seen. It is built for more games, more stories, and closer competition.
Once the groups are confirmed, FIFA will publish the full match schedule. It will include dates, kickoff times, stadium assignments, and city allocations across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. This will complete the roadmap for a tournament expected to set new standards in attendance, viewership, and global interest.
The countdown to the most ambitious World Cup in history begins with the draw. It is the moment that will shape the path for 48 nations as they chase football’s greatest prize.
