Today is a landmark day for global football as the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw unfolds in Washington.

19:43 CET – Groups Take Shape

After Pot 1 and Pot 2 were drawn, the groups currently look like this:

• Group A: Mexico, South Korea
• Group B: Canada, Switzerland
• Group C: Brazil, Morocco
• Group D: USA, Australia
• Group E: Germany, Ecuador
• Group F: Netherlands, Japan
• Group G: Belgium, Iran
• Group H: Spain, Uruguay
• Group I: France, Senegal
• Group J: Argentina, Austria
• Group K: Portugal, Colombia
• Group L: England, Croatia

18:55 CET – Host Nations Sorted

The host nations have been assigned: Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B, and the USA in Group D. Updates will continue once Pot 1 is completely drawn.

18:46 CET – Draw Officially Starts

FIFA President Gianni Infantino kicked off the proceedings. Given the expanded 48-team tournament, groups will be posted after each pot of 12 teams is drawn.

18:30 CET – Pre-Draw Ceremony

Former U.S. President Donald Trump was awarded the so-called ‘FIFA Peace Prize,’ followed by the countdown to the draw itself.

18:22 CET – Musical Entertainment

Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger performed the new World Cup anthem, adding star power before the big moment.

18:06 CET – Hosts Take the Stage

Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart took over hosting duties, warming up the crowd before the official draw.

18:01 CET – Bocelli Sets the Tone

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli opened the ceremony with a breathtaking performance, setting the stage for a truly global event.

17:55 CET – Ceremony Begins

The Kennedy Center is packed with football legends, managers, and celebrities. The excitement is palpable as the first musical performance concludes.

17:30 CET – Countdown to the Draw

With just 30 minutes to go, anticipation is building. The draw is scheduled to start at 18:45 CET and finish before 20:00 CET.

Fan Perspectives

Harry Dunnett (England fan): “The biggest fear is complacency. Every team in the group stage will fight hard, so England must be ready for every challenge. Lifting the trophy on July 19th is the goal.”

Paul Winters (Netherlands fan): “World Cups are always thrilling. I just hope to avoid Erling Haaland’s Norway and maybe draw Dick Advocaat’s Curacao. Either way, it’s going to be fun. Viva Hollandia!”

16:30 CET – How the Draw Works

48 nations will compete, with 42 already qualified and six determined via March playoffs. Teams are split into four pots based on FIFA rankings, with Pot 4 reserved for playoff winners.

Rules include:

• Maximum of two European nations per group.
• No two non-European nations from the same confederation in a group.
• Top-ranked nations (Spain, Argentina, France, England) are placed to balance the knockout path.

Pot Breakdown:

• Pot 1: USA, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
• Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
• Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
• Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, plus six playoff winners