FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: Time, Hosts, & Trump’s Visit

The group stage draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is set to take place this evening. Here’s everything you need to know about the format, the broadcast team, and a notable guest appearance.

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When and where will the draw take place?

The draw for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be held Friday evening, December 5th. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM Swiss time and will be hosted at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

The Kennedy Center, where the World Cup draw will be held.Image: keystone

How can I watch the draw?

The draw will be broadcast live on SRF Info, RTS 2, and RSI 2, beginning at 5:50 PM. FIFA will also stream the show on its own channels – including a YouTube stream.

Who will host the draw?

Supermodel Heidi Klum, hailing from four-time World Cup champions Germany, will host the show’s entertainment segments. She’ll be joined by actors Kevin Hart and Danny Ramirez throughout the evening.

Klum previously hosted the draw for the 2006 World Cup in her home country. “The World Cup unites the world like nothing else, and it is an incredible honor to be part of this magic again – this time on an even bigger stage, with three host countries and 48 teams,” she said.

The actual draw will be conducted by former England captain Rio Ferdinand and American television personality Samantha Johnson. FIFA has enlisted some of the biggest names in US sports as draw assistants. Joining them will be former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, Canadian hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, basketball icon Shaquille O’Neal, and current baseball star Aaron Judge.

Will Trump be there?

Yes, Donald Trump will also be in attendance at the draw in the US capital. His spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, has confirmed his presence. It remains unclear whether the former president will have a direct role in the draw ceremony or will simply be attending as a guest.

What is the entertainment lineup?

Musical performances will be provided by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and the Village People, who will perform their classic hit “Y.M.C.A.” after the draw is completed.

What do the pots look like?

Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3

Pot 4

These nations have qualified for the 2026 World Cup

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These nations have qualified for the 2026 World Cup

Curaçao: First World Cup appearance

source: www.imago-images.de / imago images

How does the draw work?

Teams will be divided into twelve groups (A through L), with teams from the first pot being assigned first, followed by Pot 2, Pot 3, and Pot 4. Each group will have a maximum of one team from each continental confederation, with the exception of UEFA, which can have up to two teams per group.

👉 Simulate the World Cup group draw here.

Are there any new rules?

Yes, there’s a new wrinkle: Top seeds Argentina and Spain will be kept apart in the knockout stages, meaning they can only meet in the final if both win their groups. Matches against France and England, ranked third and fourth respectively by FIFA, are also only possible in the semi-finals, should those teams also finish top of their groups.

This change won’t impact Switzerland, currently ranked 17th in the world.

Who is in the Swiss delegation?

The Swiss Football Association will be represented by seven individuals at the draw: President Peter Knäbel, National Team Director Pierluigi Tami, Team Manager Damien Mollard, and Communications Director Adrian Arnold. Head coach Murat Yakin and his assistants Davide Callà and Eduardo Parra Garcia will also be in attendance. Yakin has garnered attention, recently being named the “sexiest coach” of Euro 2024 by the New York Times. A portion of the Swiss delegation will remain in the US following the draw to scout potential team base camps.

Image: keystone

What about Iran?

Iran initially planned to boycott the draw due to visa issues. However, the federation will now be represented in Washington. The Iranian Football Federation announced via state television that national coach Amir Ghalenoei will attend the draw with one or two other representatives.

Amir Ghalenoei and Iran are in Pot 2 alongside Switzerland.Image: www.imago-images.de

Iran is one of twelve countries subject to US travel bans. Haiti, also qualified for the World Cup, is another. However, the US government has promised exemptions for “athletes or members of a sports organization.”

When will the schedule be announced?

Following Friday’s draw, the full match schedule won’t be immediately available. A second ceremony will take place Saturday evening at 6:00 PM Swiss time, where FIFA will assign matches to venues and kick-off times.

The world governing body intends to consider fans in all time zones when setting the schedule. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several football legends will be present during the scheduling process.

What is the new tournament format?

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will feature 48 teams, up from 32. There will be twelve groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage.

This means that only one-third of the participating teams will be eliminated in the group stage. The number of teams in the knockout phase will double compared to the last World Cup, starting with the Round of 32. The two finalists will play a total of eight matches at the World Cup.

Image: FIFA

The group stage will take place from June 11th to June 27th. The knockout phase will begin on June 28th. The final will be held on July 19th. Exact kick-off times are yet to be announced.

Where will the matches be played?