When is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: Date, Time, Venue, Location, How to Watch

Football’s biggest stage is about to get even bigger. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the first edition to feature 48 nations and will be played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Before the action kicks off, the highly anticipated World Cup draw will set the stage by deciding the group-stage matchups in what promises to be a historic moment for global football.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Date & Time

The draw is widely expected to take place on Thursday, December 5, 2026.
While FIFA has yet to make an official confirmation, multiple reports (NDTV, ESPN, TUDN Mexico) point to this date. The exact start time will be announced closer to the ceremony.

Where is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Venue

The frontrunning venue for the draw is The Sphere in Las Vegas, a modern 17,500-seat arena with a record-breaking 54,000-square-meter LED screen.

Las Vegas also hosted the World Cup draw in 1994, the last time the U.S. staged the tournament.
Although Vegas is not a host city for matches, it has become the symbolic home for the draw.
Earlier discussions mentioned Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, but current reports strongly favor The Sphere.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Tournament Expansion

For the first time in history, the World Cup will feature 48 nations, divided into 12 groups of 4.

Advancement: The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.
This expansion increases the total to 104 matches, which FIFA President Gianni Infantino described as “104 Super Bowls.”

FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities & Venues

The tournament will be shared across 16 host cities:

United States (11): New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area.
Mexico (3): Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey.
Canada (2): Toronto, Vancouver.

🏆 The final match will be held at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Seeding

Mexico has been placed in Group A.
Canada has been placed in Group B.
United States has been placed in Group D.
The rest of the 45 nations will be placed through the official draw.

Key Figures in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw

Gianni Infantino (FIFA President): Announced the expanded format and promoted the event as the “biggest sporting spectacle in history.”
Donald Trump: Mentioned during earlier discussions tied to the Kennedy Center, reflecting the high-profile nature of the event.

How to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw

The draw will be broadcast live worldwide, with FIFA expecting more than one billion viewers.

ESPN (USA) and TUDN Mexico will carry live coverage.
Additional international broadcasters and digital streaming details will be announced by FIFA closer to the date.

🔥 With the draw in December 2026, the countdown to football’s grandest tournament begins. Fans across the world will finally learn how the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final at MetLife Stadium will unfold.