The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the biggest edition in history, and the draw itself is set to be a global spectacle. With 48 teams, 12 groups, three host nations, and an entirely new knockout structure, the event marks a major shift in how the World Cup is organised. Here’s a clear and concise breakdown of everything to know.
When and Where the Draw Takes Place
The final draw for the 2026 World Cup will be staged in Washington, D.C., on 5 December 2025. The ceremony begins at 12 p.m. Eastern Time, which translates to 10:30 p.m. IST for viewers in India. As always, FIFA will host a star-studded event featuring past legends, regional representatives, and officials to conduct the group allocations.
How the Seeding and Pots Work
With 48 teams, FIFA has restructured the pot system. The teams are divided into four pots of 12, arranged purely by the latest FIFA World Ranking.
Pot 1 (Seeds):
- Contains the three host nations — United States national football team, Canada national football team, and Mexico national football team — who get guaranteed seeded spots.
- Plus the top nine ranked teams (based on the November 2025 FIFA men’s world ranking).
- That makes Pot 1 especially strong: teams like Spain national football team, Argentina national football team, France national football team, England national football team, Brazil national football team, and others.
Pots 2, 3, 4:
- The remaining qualified teams are placed into Pots 2–4, in descending order of ranking.
- Importantly: the six tournament spots still to be decided via playoffs (to be played in March 2026) are placed in Pot 4, even if some of them might be higher-ranked.
This pot structure ensures each group has a mix of high-, mid-, and lower-ranked (or yet-to-be-determined) teams — helping balance competition while accommodating expanded participation.
How the Draw Itself Works
Each of the 12 groups (A to L) will consist of one team from each pot. The hosts have pre-assigned slots to help coordinate travel and venue scheduling: Mexico take position A1, Canada B1, and the USA D1.
The biggest structural change lies in the knockout-path strategy. FIFA is ensuring that the highest-ranked nations are placed on separate trajectories. This prevents early high-profile clashes between elite teams, ideally letting giants meet only in later rounds.
Where to Watch the Draw Live
Fans worldwide can follow the event through several platforms. FIFA will stream the entire ceremony live on FIFA.com and the official FIFA YouTube channel, making global access straightforward. Broadcasters such as FOX Sports in the United States, BBC platforms in the UK, and regional partners in other countries will also air coverage. For fans in India, FIFA’s official channels remain the most reliable option.
Understanding the New 48-Team Format
The 2026 World Cup introduces a structure never seen before. There will be 12 groups of four, mirroring the classic format but on a larger scale. From these 48 teams, 32 will progress to the knockouts—the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams.
This expanded system increases the total number of matches to 104, up from 64. The knockout rounds then proceed in a standard bracket format, but with more teams and additional rounds before the quarter-finals.
