FIFA has announced that the final draw for the 2026 World Cup will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., highlighting the United States’ prominent role in football’s biggest event.
This prestigious cultural venue will provide a memorable backdrop for the ceremony that sets the stage for the tournament’s unprecedented expansion and North American co-hosting collaboration.
For the first time ever, the World Cup will be jointly hosted by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. This tri-nation partnership reflects a collective effort to deliver a truly continental showcase of soccer, with matches spread across vibrant cities in each host nation.
The upcoming draw will define group placements in the tournament’s new format, which features 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four, dramatically increasing the competition’s scale.
As of now, thirteen teams have qualified to join the three hosts, including football powerhouses from South America such as Brazil and Argentina, alongside competitive Asian nations like Japan and South Korea.
With African and European qualifiers still underway, the final composition of teams remains open, promising surprises and intense battles in the lead-up to the event. The last two tournament places will be decided through inter-confederation playoffs in early 2026.
The decision to hold the draw in Washington, D.C., especially at an iconic venue like the Kennedy Center, signals FIFA’s intent to celebrate not only the sport’s tradition but also the growing importance of North America in the global football landscape.
This event will launch a series of new football narratives born out of the expanded format, regional cooperation, and diverse international participation. With 35 qualification spots still to be determined, the December draw will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the World Cup.
Beyond the mechanics of group allocation, it will spotlight the cultural and sporting unity of the co-host nations and serve as a prelude to the excitement and drama that will unfold during the North American spectacle in 2026.
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