The wait is finally over. If you've been refreshing your feed for months trying to figure out when is the draw for the World Cup, you probably already know that the balls have been pulled, the groups are set, and the chaos is officially official.
Actually, it happened on Friday, December 5, 2025.
FIFA took over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to map out exactly how the first-ever 48-team tournament is going to look. It was a massive production. We’re talking a record-breaking field, a new 104-match schedule, and a bracket that’s so big it honestly feels a bit like a college basketball tournament.
The December 5 draw: What you missed
The whole world tuned in to see 12 groups of four take shape.
It wasn't just soccer suits in blazers, either. FIFA brought out the heavy hitters. You had Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Shaquille O’Neal helping with the pots. Even Rio Ferdinand was there to lead the charge. It was a weird, star-studded mix of North American sports royalty and global football legends.
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Basically, the draw decided the fate of the three host nations—the USA, Mexico, and Canada—along with the rest of the world’s elite.
We now know that Mexico will kick things off in Group A on June 11, 2026, at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Canada takes over Toronto for Group B, and the USMNT will be holding it down in Group D, starting their journey at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
How the groups actually shook out
Since there are 48 teams now, the old logic of "one group of death" doesn't quite apply. There are multiple.
The 2026 World Cup Group Lineup
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, UEFA Playoff D Winner
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, UEFA Playoff A Winner
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C Winner
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia, UEFA Playoff B Winner
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, IC Winner 2
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan, IC Winner 1
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
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Group I is looking particularly terrifying. France and Senegal are heavyweights, but adding Erling Haaland’s Norway into that mix? That is going to be a bloodbath. Also, keep an eye on Group L. England and Croatia have a lot of history, and Ghana is never an easy out.
Why some spots are still "TBD"
You might have noticed names like "UEFA Playoff Winner" or "IC Winner" in the list above.
That’s because the final six tickets to the dance haven't been punched yet. While most of the qualifying is done, we still have the high-stakes playoffs coming in March 2026.
Italy is the biggest name currently in limbo. They have to survive a brutal UEFA playoff bracket just to get into Group B. If they make it, that group becomes an absolute nightmare for Canada. Then there's the inter-confederation playoffs involving teams like Iraq, Bolivia, and Jamaica.
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It's a bit of a weird situation for those coaches. They know who they’ll play if they qualify, but they have to actually get there first.
What happens next?
Now that the when is the draw for the World Cup question is answered, the focus shifts to the logistics. On December 6, 2025, right after the glitz of the ceremony, FIFA released the granular match schedule. This is where the real travel planning begins.
If you're a fan, here is what you need to do right now:
- Check the Venue Map: The tournament is spread across 16 cities. If your team is in Group C, you’re looking at games in Boston, New York/New Jersey, and Philadelphia. If you're in Group D with the US, you're bouncing between LA, Seattle, and San Francisco.
- March Playoffs: Circle March 2026 on your calendar. That’s when the final six teams will be confirmed, filling those empty slots in the groups.
- Ticket Phase 2: Now that matchups are known, the next major ticket window is the big one. Demand is expected to be unlike anything we've ever seen.
- The Bracket: Remember, the top two from each group go through, but so do the eight best third-place finishers. This new format means almost every single group stage goal will matter for the knockout math.
The countdown is officially under 150 days. The road to the Meadowlands final on July 19, 2026, is finally mapped out.