2026 World Cup Draw: date, format, pots, and qualified teams for the World Cup

FIFA has confirmed all the details of the 2026 Football World Cup draw, a key event that will define the path of the 48 participating teams in the next World Cup. The draw, which will be held on December 5 in Washington, will mark the official start of the tournament that will be played in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a historic edition due to its expansion of participants and its new competition format.

With most teams already qualified and awaiting the last playoff spots, the draw comes with significant media and sporting interest. The new bracket design, divided into bands to avoid premature clashes between the top-ranked FIFA teams, could lead to Spain and Argentina only facing each other in the grand final on July 19 in New York

When is the 2026 World Cup draw?

FIFA will hold the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, December 5th at 6:00 PM (Spanish time), in an event that will take place at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington. The ceremony will determine the twelve groups of the tournament, each composed of four teams.

These are the keys to the 2026 World Cup draw in the United States, Canada, and Mexico:

• When will the World Cup draw be held? On Friday, December 5th.
• At what time can the 2026 World Cup draw be followed? Starting at 6 PM.
• Where will the FIFA World Cup draw take place? At the Kennedy Center in Washington, the capital of the United States.

New Draw Format for the 2026 World Cup

For the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 participants, divided into 12 groups of four teams. The three host countries—the United States, Canada, and Mexico—will be seeded and will occupy the first pot along with the highest-ranked teams in the FIFA rankings.

The most relevant novelty comes from the knockout rounds, as FIFA has decided to divide the bracket into two completely separate halves until the semifinals. This creates an unprecedented scenario: Spain and Argentina, the two currently best-ranked teams, would be placed in opposite parts of the bracket according to their status as group leaders.

Spain and Argentina could only meet in the final

If both selections meet expectations and finish first in their respective groups, they would only meet in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New York. For their part, France and England, third and fourth in the world rankings, would only cross paths with Spain or Argentina in potential semifinals.

Official Pots for the 2026 World Cup Draw

2026 World Cup Draw Pots

With the playoff still pending, these are the confirmed pots to date:

Pot 1

• Canada
• Mexico
• United States
• Spain
• Argentina
• France
• England
• Brazil
• Portugal
• Netherlands
• Belgium
• Germany

Pot 2

• Croatia
• Morocco
• Colombia
• Uruguay
• Switzerland
• Japan
• Senegal
• Iran
• Republic of Korea
• Ecuador
• Austria
• Australia

Pot 3

• Norway
• Panama
• Egypt
• Algeria
• Scotland
• Paraguay
• Tunisia
• Ivory Coast
• Uzbekistan
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa

Pot 4

• Jordan
• Cape Verde
• Ghana
• Curaçao
• Haiti
• New Zealand
• Four spots from Europe
• Two additional spots from intercontinental playoffs

The 2026 World Cup: A Global Tournament with Historic Impact

The increase from 32 to 48 teams represents the biggest structural change to the World Cup since its inception in 1930. More countries, more matches, and a territorial distribution spanning three host nations make this edition an unprecedented logistical and sporting challenge.

FIFA has insisted that this new format seeks greater global representation and a more balanced calendar. However, it also entails a considerable increase in the number of matches, which could influence the physical preparation of the footballers.

Relegation playoff and last spots up for grabs

Access to the tournament will be completed with the last spots coming from the intercontinental playoffs and the European repechage. These matches will be played in the coming months and will finalize the definitive list of participating teams.

With a renewed format, defined pots, and great powers strategically distributed by FIFA, the December 5th draw becomes a fundamental starting point for the 2026 World Cup. Expectations are at their peak, and for Spain, the path to the title will largely depend on what the Washington ceremony holds.