2026 World Cup draw: Start time, how to watch, how it works - ESPN
All you need to know ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C.
www.espn.co.ukHere’s the latest on the 2026 World Cup draw.
-
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (32 teams, expanded to 48 teams across 12 groups) took place in December 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This event officially determined the group allocations and opening-round matchups for the tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.
-
Key outcomes included host USA heading Group D, with Canada and Mexico also assigned to their respective groups, and the remaining 10 groups filled through the standard pot-based draw process. The ceremony featured heads of state and celebrity presenters, and it outlined the group stage schedule and broadcast details.
-
Notable facts from the draw: this is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams; teams are spread across 12 groups of four; the top four ranked teams (Spain, Argentina, France, England) are kept apart in the early rounds to maximize competition; playoff results determined some final entrants into the group stage.
-
If you’re looking for a detailed table of groups, fixtures, and match dates, major outlets maintained live-blogs and interactive group tables during the event, and you can find full group-by-group breakdowns, the schedule, and broadcast information on those pages.
Illustration: Example group snapshot
- Group D includes the USA and other teams drawn from the remaining pots, with initial matchups announced at the ceremony and extended scheduling released subsequently by FIFA/organizers.
Would you like a concise table of all 12 groups with teams and opening matchdates, or a short summary focused on the performance implications for teams you care about? I can pull the exact group-by-group details and format them for you.