FIFA 2026 World Cup draw: Everything you need to know ahead of USA, Canada and Mexico tournament

W ith the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw set for December 5, fans around the globe are buzzing over how the trio of host nations - United States , Canada and Mexico - will be placed and who they might face in the group stage.

As the tournament expands to 48 teams, the draw procedure and seeding rules have become crucial to shaping the competitiveness and balance of the event.

For the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 teams - up from 32 - and the draw will split them into 12 groups of four.

The draw will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on December 5, 2025. The following day, FIFA will publish the full match schedule with venues and kickoff times.

Because three countries are co-hosting, Mexico , Canada and United States are automatically placed in Pot 1, alongside the top nine nations from the November 2025 FIFA World Rankings.

Once Pot 1 is locked, the remaining qualified teams - plus the yet-to-be-determined playoff winners - will be distributed among Pots 2, 3, and 4. During the draw, each group will receive one team from each pot, ensuring a baseline of competitive balance across all groups.

To prevent regional clustering, the draw also enforces confederation constraints: no more than one team from the same confederation per group - except for UEFA, which can have up to two given its 16 qualifiers.

Hosts' paths: Where USA, Canada and Mexico begin

Each host nation's starting point is already decided. Mexico will open the tournament in Group A at the iconic Estadio Azteca on June 11, 2026.

Canada will play its first match in Group B, and the United States will be placed in Group D. All group-stage matches involving hosts will be held on home soil, giving them a clear advantage in travel and familiar surroundings.

That said, group composition still matters greatly. While the hosts are guaranteed to avoid facing each other early, they could draw world-class opponents from Pot 1 or surprise dark-horse contenders from lower pots - making the draw result a critical moment for pre-tournament strategy and expectations.

One major change in 2026 will see the knockout phase begin with a Round of 32 instead of 16 teams. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group automatically advance (24 nations), along with the eight best thirdplace finishers - bringing the total to 32.

From there, the tournament will proceed through Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third-place playoff, and final.

FIFA has also implemented a bracket mechanism inspired by tennis: the top four ranked nations will be placed in different "pathways" within the bracket.

That means, provided they each win their group, the highest-ranked sides won't crash into each other until the semifinals - preserving drama and reducing the chance of early blockbuster matchups.

'Groups of Death' are no more

The 2026 format aims to combine inclusivity with competitive fairness. By expanding to 48 teams, FIFA opens the door for nations from historically underrepresented regions, while the structured draw and seeding system helps prevent unbalanced "groups of death."

The host countries benefit from home venues and scheduling security, but they still face the unpredictability of being drawn against powerful footballing nations.

For fans, the draw isn't just about matchups. It offers early glimpses at potential rivalries, strategic roadmaps for national teams, and the chance for underdog stories to emerge.

From a sporting perspective, the expanded knockout format ensures more nations stay alive deeper into the tournament, allowing it to retain global interest and drama.

With the draw set for December 5, anticipation is at fever pitch. Whether you support a host nation or a long-shot qualifier, the next few weeks - leading up to the draw - will shape hopes, tactics, and dreams for what could be the most inclusive and unpredictable World Cup in history.

How the World Cup playoffs look

Play-off Path A:

Semi-final: Italy vs Northern Ireland

Semi-final: Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Final: Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy/Northern Ireland

Play-off Path B:

Semi-final: Ukraine vs Sweden

Semi-final: Poland vs Albania

Final: Ukraine/Sweden vs Poland/Albania

Play-off Path C:

Semi-final: Turkey vs Romania

Semi-final: Slovakia vs Kosovo

Final: Slovakia/Kosovo vs Turkey/Romania

Play-off Path D:

Semi-final: Denmark vs North Macedonia

Semi-final: Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland

Final: Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland vs Denmark/North Macedonia

Inter-confederation play-offs draw in full

Play-off Path A:

Semi-final: New Caledonia vs Jamaica

Final: New Caledonia/Jamaica vs Congo

Play-off Path B:

Semi-final: Bolivia vs Suriname

Final: Bolivia/Suriname vs Iraq