The moment the football world has been anticipating has arrived: the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is about to begin. The ceremony, which kicks off today, Friday, December 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM GMT, is being held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., USA. This draw is historic, as it will determine the 12 preliminary groups for the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
With 42 nations already qualified, the remaining spots will be determined by six playoff placeholders in the draw. The 48 teams have been divided into four pots of 12, led by the three co-hosts USA, Canada, and Mexico and the nine highest-ranked teams, including powerhouses like Spain, Argentina, France, and Brazil. The co-hosts are already pre-assigned to specific groups (Mexico in A, Canada in B, USA in D).
A key procedural constraint in the draw ensures competitive balance: the top four ranked teams in the world will be strategically placed to ensure they cannot face each other until the semifinals, guaranteeing a tense knockout stage. The overall draw process is complex, aiming to separate teams from the same confederation, with the exception of Europe, which has 16 qualifying teams.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Live marks the most critical milestone on the road to next year’s tournament across North America. Fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the results that will define their national teams’ paths to the final in July 2026, setting the stage for what is guaranteed to be the biggest soccer event in history.
