A comprehensive explanation of the FIFA World Cup draw process, detailing the format, regulations, seeding pots, group assignments, and other crucial aspects for the 2026 tournament.

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• How does the FIFA World Cup draw work?
• When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw?
• Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw?
• 2026 World Cup draw format and rules
• What are the pots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
• How is the World Cup draw different from other tournaments?
• History of World Cup draw changes
• World Cup draw controversies
• World Cup draw simulators

The 2026 World Cup promises to be the biggest FIFA showcase in history, at least by size of the tournament field.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by The United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the focus for an entire month during the summer, marking the first time the competition, with its almost 100-year legacy, will feature 48 teams.

The games commence on June 11, proceeding consecutively with more than 104 matches scheduled, concluding with The World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

The FIFA World Cup draw will determine the matchups and solidify the bracket before the games can commence.

The AllSportsPeople has the latest on how the draw will work, when it will take place, and what teams will be involved as international fixtures return this week.

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What's the process for the FIFA World Cup draw?

The matchups for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament will be determined through a four-stage draw process.

Teams will be written on slips of paper, placed in plastic balls, and then put into pots numbered 1-4 according to their FIFA ranking. Participants in the draw will select one ball from each pot to form the four-team groups.

Following a random draw, a computer assigns each team to its designated group, adhering to the event's geographical limitations.

At the conclusion of the World Cup draw, all teams will not only know who their group-stage opponents will be, but also where their potential path through the knockout bracket will fall should they finish first or second in their group and qualify for the next phase.

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2026 FIFA World Cup draw date

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled for December 5, 2025, commencing at noon local time (ET).. This event will occur half a year prior to the commencement of the World Cup.

Where is the 2026 World Cup draw?

The draw will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Donald Trump, the U.S. President and chairman of the venue, revealed where the draw would take place.

MORE: Breaking down the bookmakers' favourites to win the World Cup

The format and regulations for the 2026 World Cup draw have been announced.

The World Cup draw will appear somewhat altered from prior events due to the inaugural expansion to 48 teams, though its format will largely stay consistent.

Pots and seeding

The 48 qualified teams will be divided into four "pots" according to their FIFA rankings. Pot 1 automatically includes the host nations, who are then pre-assigned to particular groups.

Since the teams advancing from the intercontinental playoffs won't be determined when the draw occurs, all of them will be placed in Pot 4 by default, irrespective of their FIFA standings.

Drawing teams

One team from each pot will be drawn into every group, in an effort to balance the groups competitively. Instead of filling out eight groups of four teams each, the 2026 draw will fill out 12 groups of four teams each, with most of the same rules applying.

As hosts, Mexico will be pre-drawn into Group A, Canada will be pre-drawn into Group B, and USA will be pre-drawn into Group D.

For the actual drawing, teams will be selected sequentially, beginning with Pot 1 and moving through Pot 4. A computer will evaluate each selected team and assign it to the earliest available group that has an opening, following alphabetical order and bypassing groups with continental limitations.

Geographic restrictions

For The World Cup draw, a primary stipulation involves geographically grouping nations to foster distinct pairings and avoid encounters between teams from identical confederations, which might mirror previous qualifying matches.

No nations from the same confederation can be placed in the same group, except UEFA. A maximum of two European countries are permitted in any single group.

This disparity stems from the considerable number of teams advancing from the UEFA region, with Europe's confederation sending 16 teams to the final tournament.

MORE: How UEFA's World Cup prelim section works — and how teams qualify

2026 FIFA World Cup pots revealed

Pots will be finalized when all teams have qualified for the World Cup, as they are determined by FIFA ranking.

Here are the teams that have secured spots, along with the remaining open positions. It's important to note that even teams with very high rankings aren't guaranteed specific pots, as their standings might shift before the draw commences.

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Teams that have already secured their spots in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Locations yet to be finalized for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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World Cup draw: how does it differ?

The World Cup draw is actually quite similar to many other major football tournaments from around the world, meaning fans should be familiar with the general process.

This bears a strong resemblance to how the Champions League used to be drawn, prior to the UEFA competition adopting the Swiss Model and implementing a league stage.

Unlike domestic cup competitions in England, which use assigned ball numbers, this draw involves teams written on slips of paper concealed within each ball.

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World Cup draw evolution

Over the years, the World Cup draw has evolved considerably, transforming from a basic seeding method into the computer-assisted, televised spectacle we see now.

When the World Cup first started in 1930, participation was by invitation only, and top teams were seeded to ensure they wouldn't face each other early on in a straightforward knockout format.

The tournament adopted a group stage in 1950, requiring an actual draw for the initial instance. By 1982, the competition had grown to include 24 teams and featured two group stages prior to the elimination rounds, though this structure was short-lived. Despite the increase to 32 teams in 1998, leading to more matches and groups, the draw's methodology remained largely consistent.

READ MORE: England squad odds and Thomas Tuchel's predicted World Cup XI

World Cup draw controversies

FIFA champions its World Cup draw as a celebration of the tournament's beginning, but the event doesn't always go off without a hitch.

Every so often, the draw procedure malfunctions, causing embarrassment at best or suspicions of collusion at worst.

In any draw involving balls, it's common for fans to suspect that some balls might be heated or cooled to help identify them by the person conducting the draw. However, there's never been any documented instance of such a process being manipulated.

There was one event best remembered for its hiccups than its final results.

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1982 — Spain

The most significant controversy surrounding a World Cup draw occurred in 1982, when the Spanish tournament commenced with an embarrassing situation.

During FIFA's initial efforts to implement geographical limitations, the organization decided that South American nations couldn't be placed in the same group. Consequently, they intended to exclude Peru and Chile from Pot 2 until groups featuring Brazil and Argentina were finalized. However, they neglected to make these adjustments prior to commencing the draw. Furthermore, they mistakenly assigned the first two teams selected, Belgium and Scotland, to incorrect groups, necessitating a correction.

Adding to the problems, the machines used for Spain's national lottery malfunctioned, compelling tournament organizers to prod the balls with a stick to dislodge them. To make matters worse, a ball burst within the machine, making the draw a mockery.

MORE: Have Brazil ever failed to qualify for the World Cup?

World Cup draw simulators

Certain supporters like to run through a simulated World Cup draw prior to the actual event to explore possible outcomes.

The best draw simulator available is the appropriately-named Draw simulator.

There is also Sim World Cup, but this one does not pre-draw the 2026 hosts into their correct groups.

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