The 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to expand to 48 teams for the first time in the tournament's history, promises to be the biggest of its kind.
With so many qualifiers excited to learn their place in the overall field of play, the World Cup draw is the moment where each team's pathway to the final will be revealed to fans around the globe.
All 42 confirmed qualifiers will be drawn into 12 groups of four each, while the remaining six spots will also be allocated for the future qualifiers as well.
AllSportsPeople brings you all the information on the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, including when it will take place, where it will be held, and how to tune in.
MORE: How the World Cup draw will work for the 2026 FIFA tournament
What time is the 2026 World Cup draw?
The draw will begin at 12 p.m. Local time on the east coast of the United States. Below is a list of start times translated across all time zones in the mainland United States.
| Time Zone | Time |
| Eastern Time | 12 p.m. ET |
| Central Time | 11 a.m. CT |
| Mountain Time | 10 a.m. MT |
| Pacific Time | 9 a.m. PT |
When is 2026 World Cup draw?
The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025. It will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
How to watch World Cup draw 2026: TV channel, live stream
- ENGLISH:
- TV channel: FOX
- Streaming: Fubo, Fox Sports app
- SPANISH:
FOX has the English-language rights to all major FIFA competitions in the United States through the 2026 World Cup.
Thus, they will have the rights to the World Cup draw, with the event televised on FOX.
There will be a Spanish-language broadcast also available on Telemundo. All broadcasts will be accessible on Fubo, who are offering a free trial for new users. The Spanish-language broadcast is also available on Peacock.
How does the FIFA World Cup draw work?
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a random draw will be conducted to determine the 12 groups, each consisting of four teams.
The 48 teams will be split into four pots, with each group consisting of one team from each pot.
You can find a full breakdown of how the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will work here.