FIFA confirm draw pots ahead of next week’s World Cup 2026 draw

The countdown is very much underway as, for the first time ever in the tournament’s almost 100 years of history, 48 teams will participate at the forthcoming World Cup next summer with the tournament set to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Following the final international break of 2025, 42 nations have already qualified for the 2026 tournament with six places still up for grabs with four UEFA berths to be filled along with two Intercontinental spots which will be resolved in the March 2026 playoffs.

Ahead of next Friday’s draw which will be staged on Friday, 5 December, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, FIFA have confirmed the final composition of the four pots prior to the draw.

There will be 12 groups each featuring one team from each of the four pots.

FIFA have also stated that, some 24 hours after the conclusion of the draw, the updated match schedule, including the stadium assigned to each match and the respective kick-off time, will be confirmed on Saturday, 6 December.

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