World Cup 2026 draw and seeding: overview of teams
The draw for the 2026 World Cup determines the first opponents of participating teams. This article provides information on the date, location and seeding process. In addition, play-offs and available spots for the tournament are discussed.
Date and time of the World Cup 2026 draw
The official World Cup draw takes place on 5 December 2025. The event begins at 17:00 Central European Time. This schedule applies to all participating teams.
The draw follows an intense qualification phase. The focus now lies on the final stage towards the World Cup. Expectations for the seeding are therefore high.
Location of the draw
The draw is held at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. This venue is internationally known. The choice fits a major sporting event.
The venue offers space for media and guests. The event receives extensive attention from global organizations. This increases visibility for the 2026 World Cup.
The teams participating in the World Cup 2026 draw
A total of 42 teams participate in the World Cup draw. Hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States are automatically qualified. These nations represent the host status.
Many continents supply multiple teams. European and South American nations are among the favourites. African and Asian teams show increasing quality.
- Hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
- AFC: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
- CAF: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
- Concacaf: Curaçao, Haiti, Panama
- CONMEBOL: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
- OFC: New Zealand
- UEFA: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
This selection shows great variety. It promises an exciting and attractive 2026 World Cup.
Remaining spots via play-offs for the World Cup 2026
Six places will be decided later through play-offs. These play-offs take place in March 2026. This creates additional international excitement.
Four European teams qualify via a play-off route with sixteen nations. Two spots come from a tournament featuring six international teams. These teams include Bolivia and Suriname.
The play-offs determine the final participants of the 2026 World Cup. Results may be surprising. Teams from multiple regions have a chance.
Seeding for the World Cup 2026 draw
The seeding consists of four pots for the draw. The host nations receive fixed positions. Mexico, Canada and the United States start in pot 1.
Pot 1 also includes European and South American favourites. Pot 2 mainly consists of strong teams from various continents. Pots 3 and 4 combine multiple regions and play-off winners.
The seeding:
- Pot 1: Canada, Mexico, United States, 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, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, European play-off A, B, C and D, World Cup play-off tournament 1 and 2
This seeding determines the first phase of the tournament. Strong teams may face strong opponents immediately. This increases the excitement of the draw.
Procedure of the draw
The draw starts with pot 1 and ends with pot 4. Each team is allocated to one of the twelve groups. Play-offs may later fill remaining spots.
Each group consists of four teams. The order of allocation follows a standard procedure. This method has been used before.
Watching the World Cup 2026 draw live
The draw is broadcast worldwide. FIFA offers live coverage via official channels. This includes websites and social media.
Media partners also broadcast the event. Fans can follow updates across multiple platforms. This makes the draw accessible to all football fans.
Overview of the 2026 World Cup: draw, seeding and teams
The 2026 World Cup features a draw with 42 teams and six available places. The seeding offers a first view of potential matchups. Play-offs will decide the remaining spots. The tournament is widely followed and expectations are high.
Read all news »Share
Share this message via social media with your family, friends and colleagues!
Everything about the World Cup 2026 draw, seeding, teams and play-offs. Dates, location, participants and procedures of the tournament in an overview.
About the author
Author of this content is Patrick. I have been playing soccer for more than 25 years and follow the daily news closely. My hobbies include playing football, running and maintaining various websites, in addition to my job as a financial professional.
I do not work for any related company or institution, so the information is reliable and independent. The information has been collected accurately from reliable sources and is regularly updated.