Historic World Cup Draw Sets Stage for 2026 Tournament

Introduction: A Landmark Moment in Football History

The draw to determine the groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place on Friday, 5 December 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone in football history, as the tournament will feature 48 teams, up from the 32 that competed at the previous seven tournaments. The draw holds particular importance for fans worldwide, as qualified teams learned who their three group stage opponents will be, as well as their paths to the final.

Expanded Format and Tournament Details

In total, 42 of a record pool 48 teams were drawn into 12 groups of four during the ceremony, with the remaining spots reserved for playoff qualifiers. The United States, Canada and Mexico have known they will be co-hosting the 2026 tournament since 2018, making this the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by three nations across North America.

Mexico, as the host nation playing in the first game of the tournament in Mexico City on 11 June, has already been automatically placed in Group A. The updated schedule — including stadiums and kickoff times — will be released on Saturday, 6 December, allowing fans to plan their viewing experience.

Broadcasting and Ceremony Details

Kevin Hart and Danny Ramirez co-hosted the event along with Heidi Klum, with the trio joined onstage at various points by Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal. In the US, rights-holder Fox offered live coverage with a pre-show starting at 11:30 a.m. ET, whilst in the UK, the draw was broadcast live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Significance for Football’s Future

This draw represents a pivotal moment as the football world prepares for the largest World Cup ever staged. FIFA will reveal the games assigned to the previously announced schedule on Saturday, finalizing what will be a total of 104 games across 16 host cities in the three countries. The expanded format promises greater global representation and opportunities for nations to compete on football’s grandest stage, setting a new precedent for future tournaments.