The Federação Internacional of Futebol (FIFA) will hold this Friday, December 5, 2025, the draw for the groups of The event, at 12pm local time (2pm on Brasília), marks the beginning of the definition of the 12 brackets with four teams each, for the unprecedented tournament with 48 teams. However, the teams, including Brasil, will only know the times, locations and exact order of the games on the following Saturday, in a separate broadcast from the entity.
This division into two days aims to optimize logistical planning, considering the time zones of the three host countries: Estados Unidos, México and Canadá.
The Copa of the 2026 Mundo takes place from June 11th to July 19th, with 104 matches in 16 cities, and represents the first edition expanded to 48 teams, distributed in groups that advance the first two and the eight best third parties to the round of 16.
- Main innovations in the format: 12 groups of four teams, instead of eight of four.
- Expanded advancement: 32 teams in the knockout stages, compared to 16 in the 2022 edition.
- Triple venue: 11 stadiums in the US, three in México and two in Canadá.
Composition of the pots for the draw
Fifa based the pot split on the November 2025 world rankings, with the three hosts fixed in pot 1.
Brasil is part of pot 1, alongside Espanha, Argentina, França, Inglaterra, Portugal, Holanda, Bélgica and Essa position guarantees the yellow-green team the seed status in one of the groups from A to L.
Continental restrictions prevent two teams from the same confederation, except Uefa, from falling into the same group, limiting Europa to a maximum of two per group.
Event procedure details
The draw starts with pot 1, using colored balls for the hosts: green for México (group A), red for Canadá (group B) and blue for Estados Unidos (group D). The remaining nine white balls fill the remaining groups, alternating sides to balance the top four in the ranking – Espanha on side A, Argentina on B, França on A and Inglaterra on B.
Then, pots 2, 3 and 4 follow the traditional model, with a selection per pot per group, respecting the rules of geographic distribution.
The repechage teams, still undefined, occupy placeholders in pot 4, with their identities revealed in March 2026.
The process lasts around two hours and features presenters such as Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, as well as football legends on stage.
Preliminary table and logistical adjustments
Fifa released a preliminary table that allocates games to dates and cities, but without specific team pairings.
For example, on June 14, 2026, a group G game takes place at Seattle in the northwestern US and another at Los Angeles in the southwest, with times to be determined on Saturday.
This approach considers time zones to maximize global viewership, prioritizing ideal conditions for fans from different regions.
The final version of the table, announced on December 6 at 12pm local time (2pm on Brasília), includes analysis from former players and experts on the matchups.
Confirmed selections and open places
Of the 48 participants, 42 are already guaranteed, with Brasil classified via Conmebol.
Pot 2 brings together Croácia, Marrocos, Colômbia, Uruguai, Suíça, Japão, surprises from the qualifiers.
- Pot 3: Noruega, Panamá, Egito, Argélia, Escócia, Sul.
- Pot 4: Jordânia, Cabo Verde, Gana, Curaçao, Haiti, Nova Zelândia, plus six playoffs.
Six places are pending in the playoffs: four European ones, in tournaments with Itália, Ucrânia, Turquia and others, and two intercontinental ones, involving Congo, Jamaica, Bolívia and
The European repechages take place in the format of semi-finals and finals, defining the classifieds in March.
The intercontinental tournament follows a similar model, with direct clashes for the two remaining venues.
Transmission and accessibility for the public
The draw is broadcast live on TV Globo, SporTV and ge.globo on television, in addition to digital platforms such as the Fifa website and YouTube.
Fans can follow the real time on ge, with minute-by-minute updates on the groups formed.
Fifa promotes an initiative for fans from the 16 host cities to compete for free tickets and VIP experiences, increasing local engagement.
Musical performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger enrich the event, mixing sport and entertainment.
Implications for team planning
Teams like Brasil begin preparations with known opponents on Friday, but adjust logistics on Saturday, focusing on travel between the 16 stadiums.
The geographical distribution of the games minimizes long journeys, benefiting teams from distant confederations, such as Asian and African ones.
The opening takes place at Estádio Azteca, at México, on June 11, 2026, with México on the field, followed by matches in the USA and Canadá on the 12th.
The final, on July 19, at MetLife Stadium, in Nova Jersey, closes the calendar with a capacity for 82 thousand spectators.
This two-day structure accelerates group announcements while refining operational details, ensuring fluidity in the expanded tournament.
Expectations around the keys
The new format increases the number of matches to 104, spread over 39 days, with simultaneous games at multiple venues.
Teams from pot 1, like Brasil, avoid direct clashes with each other in the group stage, postponing classic duels to later stages.
The inclusion of debutantes like Curaçao and Haiti diversifies the field, as powers look to repeat recent campaigns.
The draw reinforces the confederative balance, with 16 places for Uefa, nine for Conmebol and so on, promoting global confrontations.
