FIFA World Cup 2026 Set for December in Washington

The final draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC. The draw will decide the group-stage matchups for the tournament.

The announcement was made at the White House by US President Donald J. Trump, who is also Chairman of the Kennedy Centre, together with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The ceremony will bring together team officials, ambassadors, host city representatives, global media, and fans from around the world. It marks an important step toward what FIFA describes as the biggest and most exciting World Cup in history.

The Kennedy Centre, America’s national cultural landmark and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, will serve as the iconic backdrop.

The FIFA World Cup Trophy will be on display as the world’s top footballing nations discover their group opponents ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, 2026, at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and culminates with the final at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026.

For the first time in FIFA history, fans will have the chance to attend the Final Draw through a special lottery system. Supporters from each of the 16 host cities—two in Canada, three in Mexico, and 11 across the United States—will be eligible to win complimentary tickets, including a VIP experience.

Details on the lottery procedure will be announced in due course.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed excitement about the landmark event, saying:

“We are excited to host the most anticipated Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup in history in the cultural and entertainment heart of the United States, the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC. The draw is a major milestone and one that will continue the remarkable build-up to the biggest sporting event ever.”

The draw will begin at 12:00 local time (18:00 CET) and will be broadcast live to audiences across the three host countries and worldwide via FIFA’s Media Partners. Teams from the host nations have already been seeded: Mexico (A1), Canada (B1), and the USA (D1), in line with the official match schedule released last year.

The FIFA play-off tournament will also take place in North America in March 2026, featuring six teams from five different confederations competing for the final two berths. UEFA will hold its own separate playoffs for the last four European slots. Following this, the 76th FIFA Congress will be hosted in Vancouver, Canada, on April 30, 2026.

So far, 13 teams have secured qualification for the tournament alongside the three hosts:

Defending champions Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, IR Iran, Japan, Jordan (making their World Cup debut), Korea Republic, New Zealand, Uzbekistan (first-time qualifiers)

In total, 42 of the 48 participating teams will be confirmed before the draw, with the remaining six determined through March’s play-offs.

Source: Pulse Sports