All eyes will be on the United States as coaches and team officials converge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025, for the draw of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The event will unveil the various groups for the tournament, which has been expanded to 48 teams and will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The Black Stars will learn their group-stage opponents and prepare adequately to face them when the tournament begins.
We respect England, but we are the Black Queens – Boye-Hlorkah
This article highlights some of the key things to expect at the draw.
Group Stage
The ceremony will see teams grouped from A to L, forming 12 groups. Nations will know their opponents, except those yet to qualify through the continental play-offs in March 2026.
Countries have been placed in Pots 1 to 4 according to their FIFA rankings and will not face opponents from the same pot.
Check the pots below:
Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, 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, European Play-Off A, B, C, and D, FIFA Play-Off Tournament 1 and 2
Match Venues and Kick-off Times
The venues and kick-off times for the matches will be determined on Saturday, December 6, 2025 after the draw.
This is to ensure that scheduling aligns with different time zones and that adjustments are made to provide favorable times and venues for fans worldwide.
Peace Prize
The event will honor world leaders who have made significant efforts to restore peace and end wars in various parts of the globe.
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) stated that this award will encourage leaders to fight for peace so that football can be enjoyed in a serene atmosphere.
US President Donald Trump has been tipped as a favorite for the accolade following his ongoing efforts in settling the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Four Top Seeds Advantage
The 2026 World Cup draw rewards the four highest-ranked teams; Spain, Argentina, France, and England, who will be placed in separate sections, or quadrants, of a new tennis-style seeded tournament bracket.
FIFA has said that if the top four nations finish first in their respective round-robin groups, they will avoid each other until the semifinals.
Iran’s Boycott
Iran has decided to boycott the World Cup draw after the US denied visas to members of its delegation, the state-run IRNA news agency reported on Friday, November 28, 2025.
The agency quoted Iranian football federation spokesman Amir-Mahdi Alavi as saying that officials faced visa obstacles that went beyond sporting considerations.
It is expected that FIFA will engage with the US government to resolve the issue before the tournament kicks off.
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