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SCMP Sport

The draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup takes place on Friday (US time), ahead of the tournament from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Its 48 teams – expanded from 32 at the past seven editions – will learn their path to glory.
Here is all you need to know.
What time is Fifa World Cup draw?
The draw is being held at the Kennedy Centre in Washington at 12pm local time on December 5.
Football fans in Hong Kong will have to stay up until 1am on Saturday to follow it live.
How to watch Fifa World Cup draw
The Fifa World Cup draw will be available to watch for free on Fifa’s official website and on its YouTube channel.

Stars and performers at Fifa World Cup draw
The draw will be co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and actor and comedian Kevin Hart, and will feature performances by the Village People, Andrea Bocelli and Robbie Williams.
Conducting the draw will be NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, among others.
Will Donald Trump win Fifa Peace Prize?
It is widely expected that US President Donald Trump will appear at the draw. He is also tipped to be the first recipient of the Fifa Peace Prize.
The award has been introduced “to recognise the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations”, according to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who has developed a close relationship with Trump.
The choice of draw venue is also a nod to Trump, who earlier this year installed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Centre, a performing arts venue opened in the early 1970s.

Fifa keeps top four apart
Teams are split into four pots of 12 based on world rankings, with one team from each pot going into each of the 12 groups of four.
For the first time, Fifa has kept apart the four highest-ranked nations – Spain, Argentina, France and England. They cannot meet before the semi-finals, if all four top their groups.
No group can have more than one team from the same continent, except Europe, from which 16 qualified.
A bloated World Cup?
The 48-team format has prompted an extra knockout round: a round of 32 featuring the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed sides.
This means the group phase will feature 72 games but will see just 16 of the 48 teams eliminated.
Fifa World Cup: who plays where
As hosts, the US, Canada and Mexico have already been assigned to groups.
The Americans will be in Group D, playing twice in Los Angeles and once in Seattle. Mexico, in Group A, play two matches at the Azteca in Mexico City – including the opening game on June 11 – and one in Guadalajara. Canada, in Group B, play once in Toronto and twice in Vancouver.
The final will be played at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City.
The draw is so complex that the rest of the matches will not be assigned to the 16 host cities until Saturday.

Fifa World Cup host cities
US: Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Houston, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia and New York/New Jersey.
Canada: Vancouver, Toronto.
Mexico: Guadalajara, Mexico City, Monterrey.
Pots for Fifa World Cup draw
Pot 1: United States, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany.
Pot 2: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.
Pot 4: Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, 4 x Europe play-off winners, 2 x intercontinental play-off winners.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse


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Fifa

Argentina’s Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup at the last edition in Qatar in 2022. Photo: Reuters

The MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the World Cup final next July. Photo: AP

Donald Trump is expected to attend the draw, and to collect a prize from Fifa. Photo: AP

Mexico City’s Azteca, which staged the final in 1970 and 1986, is one of the 16 venues. Photo: Reuters

Fifa president Gianni Infantino (left) speaks alongside US President Donald Trump at the White House in March. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino hold a large ticket representing a seat at the World Cup final. Photo: AP

The Kennedy Centre will be the venue for the World Cup draw. Photo: Reuters

China fans savage football team after World Cup failure, say it should be disbanded

China full-back Hu Hetao (centre, rear) is consoled after defeat to Indonesia ended their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup finals. Photo: Xinhua

Indonesia players take in the celebrations after their victory over China. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Football

All you need to know ahead of the draw for the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico – featuring Village People and a president or two


All you need to know ahead of the draw for the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico – featuring Village People and a president or two.


Shaquille O’Neal

Donald Trump

Heidi Klum

Tom Brady

Kevin Hart

National Football League

Provide background, definition and detail of a specific topic, helping the reader understand how something works or what has happened in the past.  (Eg. What is Nafta? US and Mexico are on the verge of revising trade deal.)


Explainer

Explainer | Fifa World Cup 2026 draw: how to watch, who plays where, will Trump win peace prize?

All you need to know ahead of the draw for the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico – featuring Village People and a president or two

What time is Fifa World Cup draw?

How to watch Fifa World Cup draw