Final Draw for 2026 FIFA World Cup to Take Place at Kennedy Center in December

The countdown to the biggest FIFA World Cup in history will reach a major milestone on 5 December 2025, when the Final Draw is staged at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, setting the stage for the 48-team tournament across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The eyes of the footballing world will be on Washington DC on Friday, 5 December 2025, as the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is conducted at the renowned Kennedy Center. The event will determine the group-stage fixtures for the expanded 48-team competition, which will be jointly hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The announcement was made at the White House by U.S. President Donald J. Trump alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, highlighting the significance of the draw in the build-up to the tournament.

The Kennedy Center, recognised as America’s national cultural centre and a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, will welcome officials from competing nations, ambassadors, media representatives and fans from all 16 Host Cities. The iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy will also be on display as qualified teams discover their road to the final, which will take place at New York New Jersey Stadium on 19 July 2026.

The draw will be broadcast live worldwide. Tournament hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States will be automatically placed in positions A1, B1 and D1 respectively.

Ahead of the tournament, a new FIFA play-off competition scheduled for March 2026 will decide the last two qualification spots. At present, 13 teams have already booked their place, including reigning champions Argentina and debutants Jordan and Uzbekistan. By the time of the draw, 42 of the 48 teams will have been confirmed.

In an unprecedented move, fans from each Host City — 11 across the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada — will have the opportunity to attend the draw via a special lottery offering free admission and VIP experiences.