2026 FIFA World Cup Draw: Teams, Pots, and Format Revealed - A New Era for Football

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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner, and the excitement is building. On Friday, December 5, the draw ceremony will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., officially kickstarting the tournament. This edition promises to be one of the biggest sporting spectacles, featuring 48 teams for the first time, with the USA, Canada, and Mexico serving as co-hosts. The teams will be divided into 12 groups, with four teams in each, and the hosts have been placed in their respective groups: Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B, and the USA in Group D. The world's top 11-ranked teams have qualified, with Italy among 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths to be decided on March 31. The draw will feature 48 teams, including the top nine seeds and the three host nations, in four pots. Pot 1 includes the top seeds, while Pot 2, 3, and 4 feature teams ranked lower. The tournament format has been revamped, with every team playing three group-stage matches in an expanded round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will move straight into the knockouts, while the eight strongest third-placed finishers will also progress, filling out the revamped Round of 32. This marks a new era for the FIFA World Cup, with an extended elimination bracket for the first time in tournament history. The draw ceremony will be attended by President Donald Trump, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The event will be streamed live on the FIFA+ app and social media handles of the FIFA World Cup. Key details: - Date: Friday, December 5 - Time: 10:30 PM IST - Venue: Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. - Streaming: FIFA+ app and social media handles of the FIFA World Cup