The draw for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held for the first time in three venues, the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be held this Friday in Washington. Also for the first time, it will host 48 teams. All these selections will be included in four pots. In pot one will be Canada, Mexico, the United States, Spain, Argentina, France, England, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In pot two: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Republic of Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia. In pot three: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. And in pot four: Jordan, Cape Verde, Haiti, and New Zealand already have their place. Four Europeans will join them: those classified A (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia); B (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo); C (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania) and D (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic or Ireland); and two from the international play-off: group 1 (New Caledonia, Jamaica or the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and group 2 (Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq). The 12 groups will be made up of 4 teams each. The first two in each group and the eight best third parties qualify for the next round. The great celebration of world football will take place and the final will be on July 19, 2026.
Veronica M. Garrido
The coach of the Mexican team, Javier Aguirre, and the Mexican delegation. /Getty
The Basque Aguirre present on the red carpet
The Mexican delegation led by coach Javier The Basque Aguirre attends the event in Washington, where he will meet Mexico’s rivals, including the opening match at the Azteca Stadium on June 11.
Veronica M. Garrido
President Donald Trump arrives at the ceremony
Escorted by Infantino, Donald Trump enters the draw in Washington, as one of the hosts of the tournament.
Veronica M. Garrido
Claudia Sheinbaum present at the draw
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, arrives at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts accompanied by the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino. This is the president’s first visit to the United States, and her first meeting with President Trump.
The big stars attend the event
Great legendary players, such as Stoichkov or Diego Forlán, attend this draw for the 2026 World Cup.
Jesus Servulo Gonzalez
Nevada and Washington
Washington has woken up with the first snowfall of the season to receive the draw for the 2026 World Cup. A line of several hundred journalists queue at the entrances to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the place where the ceremony will be held. The police have closed off adjacent streets and access to the infrastructure can only be done on foot. There are great security measures and rigorous access controls to enter.
Veronica M. Garrido
Andrea Bocelli before the ceremony in Washington. / AP
The presentations that will accompany the event: Robbie Williams, Village People and Andrea Bocelli
The giveaway will include a concert featuring the Village People acts, who will open the show with their hit YMCA, — used by U.S. President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign — British singer Robbie Williams, and tenor Andrea Bocelli.
As hosts, the model Heidi Klum, the comedian Kevin Hart and the actor Danny Ramirez.
Veronica M. Garrido
This is how the drums for the draw are formed
With 188 days to go before the opening of the 2026 World Cup, the path of each of the 42 qualified teams is being defined, and we are waiting for the last six places that will be decided by playoff. This is how the drums are formed:
BOMB 1
Canada
Mexico
USA
Spain
Argentina
France
England
Brazil
Portugal
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
BOMB 2
Croatia
Morocco
Colombia
Uruguay
Swiss
Japan
Senegal
Iran
South Korea
Austria
Ecuador
Australia
BOMB 3
Norway
Panama
Egypt
Algeria
Paraguay
Tunisia
Scotland
Ivory Coast
Qatar
Uzbekistan
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
BOMB 4
Jordan
Cape Verde
Ghana
Curacao
Haiti
New Zealand
REP. Uefa 1
REP. Uefa 2
REP. Uefa 3
REP. Uefa 4
REPATCH 1
REPATCH 2
Good afternoon and welcome to the draw for the final phase of the 2026 World Cup. A very special event that symbolizes the starting signal for the World Cup. The United States, Mexico and Canada will host the biggest festival in world football starting on June 11 next year.
