Global attention will be on Washington, DC, on Friday, 5 December 2025, when the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 takes place at the Kennedy Center.
The event will decide the group-stage fixtures for what will be the largest World Cup in history, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The announcement was made at the White House by US President Donald J Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The draw marks an important step towards the upcoming 48-team tournament.
The Kennedy Center, America’s national cultural hub and memorial to President John F Kennedy, will host team officials, dignitaries, media representatives and fans from the 16 Host Cities.
The iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy will also be on display as nations discover their routes to the final. The match will take place on 19 July 2026 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
The ceremony will be broadcast worldwide.
The three host nations are already confirmed as seeded:
- Mexico in Group A1,
- Canada in B1 and
- The United States in D1
Before the tournament, a new FIFA play-off competition in March 2026 will determine the last two qualification spots.
To date, 13 countries have secured their places, including holders Argentina and first-time qualifiers Jordan and Uzbekistan.
By the time the draw takes place, 42 of the 48 teams will already be confirmed.
For the first time, FIFA will open the draw to fans from all Host Cities. Supporters in 11 American venues, three Mexican cities and two in Canada will have the chance to attend through a special lottery, with free entry and exclusive VIP experiences on offer.
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