Ultimate Guide to FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: Teams, Pots and How to Watch Live
The FIFA World Cup 2026 draw is set to take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. This event will be held on Friday, December 5, 2025, starting at 12:00 PM local time (17:00 GMT). This year’s tournament will mark a historic moment as it expands to feature 48 teams, up from the previous 32.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: Teams and Pots
The draw will include 12 seeded teams distributed among four pots. The allocation follows a new system designed to balance competition. The top four-ranked teams are:
- Spain
- Argentina
- France
- England
The next five best-seeded teams are:
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Portugal
Three additional seeded spots are given to the host nations:
- Canada
- Mexico
- USA
Drawing Process and Groups
The draw will commence with Pot 1, where the seeded teams will be placed into Groups A to L. Following this, teams from Pots 2, 3, and 4 will be drawn in succession. Italy, a past winner of the World Cup, is currently in contention through the playoffs and could end up in Pot 4 if they qualify. New entrants like Uzbekistan will be in Pot 3, while Jordan, Cape Verde, and Curacao are set for Pot 4.
| Pot | Teams |
|---|---|
| Pot 1 | Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal |
| Pot 2 | Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia |
| Pot 3 | Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, South Africa |
| Pot 4 | Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, Playoff Winners A, B, C, D, Intercontinental Playoff Winners 1, 2 |
World Cup Draw Rules
The draw follows specific rules to ensure a fair distribution of teams. Each nation’s name is placed inside a numbered plastic ball representing its pot. Draw representatives will mix the balls before selecting them to form the groups.
Notably, the three host nations will occupy predetermined groups. Mexico is assigned to Group A, Canada to Group B, and the USA to Group D. Beyond these, no group can feature more than one team from the same confederation, with UEFA allowing for the possibility of two teams from Europe being in the same group.
Viewing the Draw Live
The 2026 World Cup draw will be streamed live on FIFA.com and across their official social media channels. Various media partners, including Al Jazeera Sport, will also provide coverage and live commentary.
As anticipation builds for the World Cup, fans worldwide look forward to discovering the groups that will shape the tournament format.
