World Cup

2026 World Cup Draw Date Revealed: When Will Nations Learn Their Fate?

As each day passes, tangible anticipation grows for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The enlarged tournament will mark the largest in the competition's legacy as 48 nations compete for global championship glory across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Some come bearing massive hopes, others aspire to emerge as surprise contenders, while for many simply qualifying for soccer's most coveted tournament represents a dream fulfilled.

All six continental federations have wrapped up their regular qualifying processes—though six squads remain to secure their spots through playoff matches—indicating most of next summer's competitors are confirmed.

Their paths will be unveiled shortly, with anticipation soaring to unprecedented levels once the group phase allocation is finalized.

But when will participating countries learn their group assignments for the 2026 World Cup?

When Is the 2026 World Cup Draw?

The group phase approaches rapidly now. All 12 groups will be randomly allocated on Friday, Dec. 5 at 12 p.m. ET (9 a.m. PT / 5 p.m. GMT), with each group featuring four countries—one selected from each of the four seeding pots.

The three joint hosts are already aware of their group placements for the competition, with Mexico placed in Group A, Canada assigned to Group B and the USMNT positioned in Group D. Nevertheless, they will learn about their three group rivals on Friday.

The ceremony hosts remain unannounced, though expect appearances from numerous legendary players—particularly those representing the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The World Cup tournament itself runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Where Is the 2026 World Cup Draw?

The 2026 World Cup draw was speculated to take place in Las Vegas to compensate for the absence of tournament matches there, but it has been officially announced that the ceremony will occur at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.

Nevertheless, FIFA's utilization of the Kennedy Center has sparked debate and prompted a Senate investigation. This stems from soccer's governing organization securing the venue without charge, though unverified reports from Kennedy Center officials suggest FIFA has contributed a substantial multi-million dollar donation and offered valuable marketing partnerships.