FIFA 2026 World Cup Groups Unveiled During Trump Attended Kennedy Center Event

The FIFA 2026 World Cup groups were officially unveiled during a high-profile event at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025. This draw marks a significant milestone in the preparations for the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Structure of the Tournament Groups

The draw divides 48 teams into 12 groups, each containing four teams. The teams are sorted from four distinct pots, based on their international rankings.

Team Distribution by Pots

• Pot 1: Includes the three host nations—U.S., Canada, and Mexico—along with Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
• Pot 2: Features Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, and Australia.
• Pot 3: Consists of Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.
• Pot 4: Comprises Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, and six playoff teams to be determined in March.

Advancement and Match Format

Teams from Pot 1 will occupy the top positions in their respective groups. A key rule states that teams from the same confederation cannot be placed in the same group, with the exception of UEFA, which has an excess of teams.

During the group stage, teams play each other in a round-robin format. The competition progresses as follows:

• The top two teams from each group advance.
• The eight best third-place teams also move forward to the knockout stage.

Knockout Stage Details

The knockout stage will follow a single-elimination format. Teams must secure victories to proceed in the tournament. The knockout stages consist of five rounds:

1. Round of 32
2. Round of 16
3. Quarterfinals
4. Semifinals
5. Final

Additionally, a third-place match will be held between the two semifinal losers, adding further excitement to the concluding phase of the tournament.

The unveiling of the FIFA 2026 World Cup groups signifies an important step toward what promises to be an unforgettable international football event.