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2026 World Cup draw set for Washington DC
The 2026 FIFA World Cup finals draw will take place in Washington DC on Friday, though the U.S. capital will not host any matches. The event, starting at 17:00 GMT (12:00 local time), will assign 48 teams to 12 groups under intricate rules designed to balance competition and regional constraints.
Star-studded ceremony ahead of the draw
The draw will be preceded by a high-profile event featuring celebrity hosts and performers. Supermodel Heidi Klum, comedian Kevin Hart, and actor Danny Ramirez will co-host, while live music performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, and Nicole Scherzinger are scheduled. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to deliver speeches.
Former England defender Rio Ferdinand will lead the draw, assisted by broadcaster Samantha Johnson and sports legends including Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal. The Village People will close the ceremony with a performance of YMCA, with the entire event expected to last 90 minutes.
How the draw works: Pots, quadrants, and constraints
The 48 qualified teams are divided into four pots of 12, primarily based on FIFA world rankings. Pot one includes the three host nations-Mexico, Canada, and the United States-along with the top-ranked teams. Pot four contains teams advancing through six play-off paths, including European contenders like Italy, Denmark, and Wales, who could have been in higher pots if they had qualified directly.
Each of the 12 groups will feature one team from each pot. Host nations have pre-assigned group positions to ensure they play all matches in their own countries. For example, Mexico will be in Group A (position A1), Canada in Group B (B1), and the U.S. in Group D (D1).
Special seeding for top-ranked teams
For the first time, FIFA has introduced special seeding for the top four teams-Spain, Argentina, France, and England-to maximize high-stakes matches in the knockout stages. These teams will be placed in different colored quadrants of the bracket, ensuring they cannot meet until the semi-finals or final, provided they win their groups.
If a seeded team finishes second in its group, it loses this privilege. For instance, if England places second in Group H, they could face Spain, Argentina, or France as early as the Round of 16.
Confederation rules and deadlock risks
No group can include more than one team from the same confederation, with an exception for UEFA, which has 16 teams. This rule creates complexities, particularly for teams qualifying through inter-confederation play-offs. For example, Pathway 2-featuring Bolivia (CONMEBOL), Suriname (CONCACAF), and Iraq (AFC)-could force a team into a group with two European nations and one African team to avoid deadlocking, a scenario where the draw cannot be completed under existing rules.
FIFA's computer system will manage these constraints, ensuring teams are placed in the first available group that meets all criteria. The system will also assign group positions to determine fixture order, though specific venues and kick-off times will be announced the following day.
What happens after the draw?
While the draw will reveal opponents and match dates, venues and kick-off times for most groups will be disclosed on Saturday, 6 December, at 17:00 GMT (12:00 local time). Groups A, B, and D-hosted by Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., respectively-already have confirmed venues but not kick-off times.
All 12 groups will follow the same fixture order:
- Match Day 1: 1 v 2, 3 v 4
- Match Day 2: 1 v 3, 4 v 2
- Match Day 3: 4 v 1, 2 v 3
FIFA President Gianni Infantino will join football legends to discuss key matches during the schedule announcement.
