Fifa organizes the draw for groups from Copa to Mundo in 2026 this Friday, December 5th, at Kennedy Center, at Washington, at The event begins at 12pm local time (12pm EST / 2pm Brasília) and will define the 12 brackets with four teams each for the tournament expanded to 48 participants. Técnicos as Carlo Ancelotti from Brasil and representatives from other qualified teams will attend, except for Irã who will boycott due to visa restrictions.
The presence of the president of the Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, was confirmed by the Casa Branca, highlighting the support for the Mundial co-sponsored by the country. The draw follows rules announced the previous week, with selections distributed into four pots according to the Fifa ranking of November 2025. Canadá, México and Estados Unidos, as hosts, occupy fixed positions:
The 42 teams already qualified include powers such as Espanha, Argentina, França and Inglaterra in the initial positions of the ranking, ensuring balance in the groups. Seis remaining places will come from repechages in March 2026, represented by placeholders in
The Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is almost here 🙌
— FIFA (@FIFAcom)November 25, 2025
Find out everything you need to know ahead of 5 December 👇
Division of pots and allocation criteria
Teams were allocated into pots to avoid premature clashes between leaders. Pote 1 brings together the hosts and the nine best ranked teams, with Brasil in seventh position globally. Cada group receives one selection from each pot, limiting to two teams from Uefa per bracket.
The process starts with Pote 1, using colored balls for the hosts: green for México, red for Canadá and blue for Estados Unidos. The rest go to position 1 of the remaining groups, from C to L, in alphabetical order. Espanha and Argentina, leaders of the ranking, will be placed on opposite sides of the bracket, as will França and Inglaterra.
- Pot 1: Anfitriões plus Espanha, Argentina, França, Inglaterra, Portugal,
- Pot 2: Equador, Uruguai, Colômbia, Marrocos, Senegal, Nigéria,
- Pot 3: Seleções from 22 to 33, including Suíça, Dinamarca and Tunísia.
- Pot 4: Times from 34 to 45, plus placeholders for repechages, such as Jordânia and Cabo Verde.
This structure guarantees geographic diversity, with a maximum of one team per confederation in each group, except Uefa.
Event preparations and broadcast
Fifa prepared Kennedy Center to receive delegations from 42 nations, with live broadcast on global platforms. No Brasil, broadcasters such as Globo, Sportv and SBT will cover the draw from 1:30 pm, with studio narration. Lendas from football, like Pelé in posthumous tributes and former players from various eras, will participate in panels.
The location, an iconic cultural center, was chosen to symbolize the sport’s integration into American culture. Medidas security measures include visa screening for Asian and African delegations, following incidents in past editions. The ceremony lasts about two hours, with breaks for ambassador announcements.
Representatives from host cities, such as Nova York and Cidade from México, will be present to promote the 16 stadiums involved. The event marks the official start of the countdown, with the tournament running from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Rules for balance in groups
The draw applies restrictions for competitiveness. Anfitriões play their third matches at home, influencing starting positions. The top four ranked teams avoid crossing into the semi-finals if they lead groups: Espanha in quadrant A, Argentina in B, França in A and Inglaterra in B.
Pote 4 placeholders follow repechage routes: one from Uefa and inter-confederations, avoiding confederative conflicts. For example, pathway 1 with Nova Caledônia, Jamaica and Congo does not fall into groups with Concacaf or Africans. Essa mechanics were tested in Fifa simulations to validate balance.
Each pot is drawn in full before the next, with positions predetermined by fixed standards. Brasil, in Pote 1, can fall into any group except A, B or D, opening up different paths in the knockout stages.
Absences and controversies in the draw
Irã confirmed the delegation’s absence due to denial of visas, citing diplomatic tensions. The Iranian federation sent an official note to Fifa, asking for a review, but the boycott continues. Outras Asian teams, like Japão, monitor approvals.
Debates about inclusion have arisen with qualifications from smaller nations, such as Curaçao, the smallest population ever in Copa. Críticos question the ranking, but Fifa defends expansion towards globalization. Israel faced threats of a Spanish boycott over issues in Oriente Médio, resolved through mediation by Uefa.
Fifa reinforced integrity protocols, with external auditing of the ball process. Nenhum similar incident occurred in recent draws, but cybersecurity alerts were issued.
Transmission of times and locations the next day
On Saturday, December 6, Fifa announces times and stadiums for the 104 live matches at 1pm on Brasília. Gianni Infantino will lead, with legends commenting on potential matchups. The 16 venues include Azteca, at México, opening on June 11.
The agenda covers group stages from June 11th to 27th, with knockout stages from June 28th to July 3rd in 14 cities. Oitavas takes place from July 4th to 7th in eight stadiums. Representantes of the 42 teams will attend, adjusting logistics.
This announcement finalizes the calendar, with 72 games in the initial phase. Fifa estimates 5 million tickets, prioritizing sustainability in transport.
Expectations for Brasil in the new format
Brasil arrives as the top seed, under Ancelotti, with a renewed squad after the South American qualifiers. The coach praised the balanced pot, but warned of surprises from lower pots. The team tests lineups in friendlies in December.
The 48-team format increases the chances of underdogs, with eight third parties advancing. Histórico shows hard groups like the one from 2014, with Itália and Inglaterra. Ancelotti focuses on rotation for 104 total games.
Brazilian fans fill arenas in Los Angeles and Seattle, American venues. CBF plans travel packages, integrating tourism into the event.
Expanded Tournament Details
The 2026 Copa innovates with 104 matches, 40 more than 2022, in three nations. Cada finalist plays seven times, testing squad depth. Fifa has allocated slots: 16 Uefa, 9 Concacaf, 6 Conmebol, 9 Caf, 8 Afc and 1
Stadiums like MetLife, in Nova Jersey, will host semi-finals. Sustentabilidade includes renewable energy and plastic reduction. The opening at Azteca marks the third México as headquarters.
200,000 volunteers are recruited, with online training. Fifa projects a global audience of 5 billion.
