The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Originally expected to be held in Las Vegas, the high-profile event will determine the group stage opponents for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Host nations Mexico, Canada, and the United States will automatically be placed in Groups A1, B1, and D1, while 42 of the 48 participating teams will be confirmed by the draw date. The final six spots will be filled via FIFA’s intercontinental playoff in March 2026. Trump called the Kennedy Center “a phenomenal kick-off” venue, while Infantino described the event as “the most anticipated Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup in history.”
The World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, will be co-hosted across 16 cities in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Infantino said the draw would mark a “major milestone” in preparations for the tournament, adding that fans, global media, and team delegations would gather in the U.S. capital for what he called “the biggest sporting event ever.”