FIFA President Gianni Infantino, US President Donald Trump, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney throughout the draw Pool at John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, US on December 5, 2025. — ReutersTrump, Sheinbaum, Carney be a part of Infantino for the expanded WC launch.Star-studded occasion options Bocelli, Klum, Hart, a number of sports activities icons.6 spots undecided forward of March playoffs; full schedule out Saturday.
The 48 nations taking part within the largest FIFA World Cup ever, subsequent summer time in North America, have been positioned into 12 teams on Friday.
The drawing ceremony passed off on the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC, the place US President Donald J. Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino to characterize the three international locations co-hosting the expanded world soccer match.
“This will be the greatest FIFA World Cup ever. The greatest event humanity will ever see,” Infantino stated earlier than the draw.
“I will put it in terms that the American audience will understand,” he added. “The World Cup is like 104 Super Bowls in one month.”
Friday’s festivities have been hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and actor/comic Kevin Hart and kicked off with a efficiency by legendary Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger sang the official FIFA anthem “Desire,” adopted by the presentation of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to Trump. Wayne Gretzky, Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and Aaron Decide participated within the drawing.
Forty-two nations have certified. The opposite six individuals are nonetheless to be decided by UEFA and inter-confederation playoffs being held in March.
In 188 days, Mexico will play the primary match of the match on June 11 towards South Africa on the Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis.
The entire World Cup schedule, together with venues and kickoff occasions, shall be confirmed at midday ET on Saturday.
The USA is in Group D together with Australia, Paraguay and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff staff (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo).
Staff USA will play Paraguay on June 12 (Inglewood, Calif.), Australia on June 19 (Seattle) and the third group member on June 25 (Inglewood, Calif).
Mexico is in Group A with South Korea, South Africa and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff staff (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia or Eire).
Becoming a member of Canada in Group B are Switzerland, Qatar and a yet-to-be-determined European playoff staff (Italy, Northern Eire, Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina).
The highest two finishers from every group, together with the eight finest third-place groups, will advance to the ultimate 32 for the knockout stage.
The championship match will happen on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Matches are going down in 16 cities throughout North America, together with two in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) and three in Mexico (Mexico Metropolis, Monterrey and Guadalajara).
Places throughout the US are Atlanta, Boston (Foxborough, Mass.), Dallas (Arlington, Texas), Houston, Kansas Metropolis, Los Angeles (Inglewood, Calif.), Miami (Miami Gardens, Fla.), New York/New Jersey (East Rutherford, N.J.), Philadelphia, San Francisco (Santa Clara, Calif.) and Seattle.
The pre-tournament favourites, in accordance with DraftKings, are Spain (+450), England (+600), France (+700), Brazil (+800) and Argentina (+800).
Argentina is the defending World Cup champion, with celebrity Lionel Messi main the staff to a championship within the 32-team match in Qatar in 2022.
The remainder of the 2026 FIFA World Cup teams:
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curacao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, TBD (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania)
Group G: Belgium, Iran, Egypt, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, TBD (Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq)
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group Ok: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, TBD (New Caledonia, Jamaica or Congo DR)
Group L: England, Croatia, Panama, Ghana
