The final round draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on December 5 at Washington’s Kennedy Arts Center, according to an announcement made at the White House. The event was confirmed during a meeting between the FIFA president and U.S. leadership.
This upcoming tournament marks a historic expansion, becoming the first World Cup to feature 48 national teams competing simultaneously. The participating squads will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Qualification for the knockout stage will include group winners and runners-up, plus the best-performing third-place teams.
The expanded format introduces an additional playoff round at the 1/16 finals stage, creating more competitive matches throughout the tournament.
Argentina enters as the defending champion following their 2022 victory. Several nations have already secured their positions in the tournament, including Japan, New Zealand, Iran, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, alongside automatic qualifiers from host nations.
The 2026 championship will be jointly hosted across North America, with matches scheduled in Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
