FIFA announces that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington. Find out all the details of this historic event.

The draw for the 2026 World Cup now has a date and venue

The wait is over. FIFA has confirmed that the draw for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup will take place on Friday, December 5, at the iconic Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The announcement was made jointly by Gianni Infantino, president of soccer's governing body, and Donald Trump, president of the United States, at an event full of energy and high-impact statements.

“The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest and most complex sporting event in history, and the Kennedy Center will give it a phenomenal start,” Trump said during the presentation.

The draw will determine the groups of 48 teams, in what will be the first edition in history with this number of participants, increasing from 32 to 48 teams.

The World Cup between three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada

The 2026 World Cup will be held between June 11 and July 29 at 16 venues spread across the three host countries. The opening match will take place at Azteca Stadium, while the final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New York.

So far, in addition to the three hosts, teams such as Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand have already qualified, leaving 42 of the 48 teams confirmed. The last four spots will be decided between December 2025 and March 2026, when the final playoff will be played.

Kennedy Center, Washington's finest venue to kick off the World Cup celebrations

Even though Las Vegas was mentioned as a possible venue, the draw will finally take place at the renovated Kennedy Center, a top-notch cultural venue in the US capital. Trump highlighted the importance of the location:

“It's a great honor to bring this global event to this cultural center. The best athletes on the planet will be here, a spectacle that will unite the world.”

This draw promises historic moments, tactical strategies, and, above all, emotions that will sweep across the continent.