The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is underway at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where world leaders, sports stars and FIFA officials have gathered for a ceremony shaping next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
U.S. President Donald Trump is attending alongside Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The event marks a historic moment in the run-up to the first World Cup co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada since the tournament expanded from 32 to 48 teams.
A record 64 nations remain in contention for 48 spots, with 42 already qualified. Six positions in pot 4 will be decided in March through continental playoffs.
The draw is dividing teams into 12 groups of four — Group A through Group L — with each group receiving one team from each of the four pots, arranged largely by FIFA rankings. Host nations Mexico, Canada and the U.S. were placed in pot 1, ensuring they avoid the world’s highest-ranked sides in the group stage.
FIFA is also using the ceremony to debut a new FIFA Peace Prize, sparking speculation that Trump could be the first recipient. Trump told reporters he had “not been told” whether he will receive the honor but said it “would be a great privilege.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino declined to confirm the award’s recipient, saying only that “you will see.”
The star-studded event features athletes including Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky and Aaron Judge, who are assisting with the draw. Mascots representing the three host countries — Clutch the bald eagle (U.S.), Zayu the jaguar (Mexico) and Maple the moose (Canada) — welcomed guests on the red carpet.
Heavy snowfall greeted attendees outside the Kennedy Center, a stark contrast to the heat expected during the tournament’s June–July schedule.
As the draw progresses, teams will be watching closely to avoid difficult matchups, especially the pot 4 slots still undecided. Four European teams and two intercontinental playoff winners will be added to the field in March, with Italy and Denmark among the highest-ranked nations still fighting for qualification.
Full group assignments and match times will be announced by FIFA on Saturday.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is underway at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where world leaders, sports stars and FIFA officials have gathered...
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Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe’s demographic needs from its political choices.
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Île Longue submarine base in western Brittany, officials confirmed on Friday.
Thousands of students across Germany walked out of classrooms on Friday to protest a newly approved military service law.
Middle Corridor’s rising strategic importance, and new dimensions of its development demand closer scrutiny
For nearly three decades following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the international system was defined by a singular, overwhelming reality: American unipolarity.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is underway at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where world leaders, sports stars and FIFA officials have gathered for a ceremony shaping next summer’s expanded 48-team tournament.
Faced with mounting public outrage following one of the deadliest environmental disasters in the nation’s recent history, the Indonesian government has pledged to investigate and potentially shut down mining operations found to have contributed to the catastrophic flooding on Sumatra.
Israel was cleared on Thursday to participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, a decision made by the organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which sparked a major controversy.
Britain’s King Charles III welcomed German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday, marking the beginning of his three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. The visit, the first by a German President to the UK in 27 years, comes as the two countries continue to strengthen ties post-Brexit.
Europe is entering a period of long-term population decline just as right-wing parties push to restrict migration. A widening gap now separates Europe’s demographic needs from its political choices.
French naval forces opened fire on a swarm of unidentified drones that flew over one of the country’s most sensitive military installations, the Île Longue submarine base in western Brittany, officials confirmed on Friday.
Thousands of students across Germany walked out of classrooms on Friday to protest a newly approved military service law.
Norway plans to buy two additional submarines from Germany and a separate procurement of long-range artillery, the defence ministry said on Friday, at a much higher cost than before partly due to high demand for military equipment.
Moscow has expressed cautious optimism regarding diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, following a marathon meeting between President Vladimir Putin and high-level representatives of the Trump administration.
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