FIFA Reveals Draw Procedure for 2026 World Cup on December 5

FIFA has announced the procedure for the draw of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The draw will determine the placement of 48 teams into four pots, from which they will be allocated into 12 groups of four teams each. This draw represents a significant step for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The tournament will feature a diverse mix of teams, with the three host nations placed in Pot 1 alongside the nine highest-ranked countries according to FIFA’s official rankings. These teams include Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The host countries will be identified with distinct colored balls during the draw: Mexico will be represented by a green ball, Canada by a red ball, and the United States by a blue ball.

Following the allocation of Pot 1, the next 12 highest-ranked nations will be placed in Pot 2. This group includes notable teams such as Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, and Uruguay. Pot 3 will consist of another 12 teams, featuring nations like Norway, Panama, and Egypt. The final Pot 4 will include the remaining teams, as well as the six winners from the intercontinental playoffs.

Draw Mechanics and Group Placement

The draw will be conducted in a way that prevents teams from the same confederation from being placed in the same group, with the exception of European teams. Given that there are 16 European teams qualified for the tournament, four groups will contain two teams from Europe while the remaining groups will each have one. This structure is designed to maintain a competitive balance throughout the tournament.

To further ensure that the tournament remains fair, the top-ranked teams, such as Spain and Argentina, will be placed in opposite pathways during the draw. This means that if both teams win their respective groups, they cannot face each other until the final match. The same approach will apply to the next two highest-ranked teams, France and England.

The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) will begin its campaign on June 12, facing a team from Pot 3 in its opening match in Inglewood, California. Following this, they will encounter a Pot 2 team on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle, concluding the group stage against a Pot 4 team back in Inglewood. For the USMNT, the second match against a Pot 2 team is expected to be particularly challenging.

Mexico, placed in Group A, will kick off the tournament on June 11 against a Pot 3 team at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. They will then face a Pot 2 team on June 18 at the Estadio Akron outside Guadalajara, finishing their group matches on June 24 against a Pot 4 opponent in Mexico City.

Meanwhile, Canada will start its World Cup journey on June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto against a Pot 4 team. Their second match is scheduled for June 18 in Vancouver against a team from Pot 3, with the group stage finale also taking place in Vancouver against a Pot 2 team.

As the draw date approaches, anticipation builds for what promises to be a thrilling tournament featuring a diverse array of teams and global footballing talent. The complete match schedule, detailing stadium assignments and kick-off times, will be released on December 6.