The countdown to the first 48-team 2026 World Cup begins in earnest on Friday as the draw for the 2026 finals takes place in Washington, D.C., with US President Donald Trump expected to dominate much of the attention.
The tournament, hosted across North America from June 11 to July 19, will feature 16 more teams than the 32 nations that competed in Qatar 2022.
The expansion promises new rivalries, first-time qualifiers, and a more complex schedule.
The draw ceremony will be held at the Kennedy Center on the banks of the Potomac River.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump, including visits to the White House, and the US President is expected to receive the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize for efforts “uniting people and bringing hope for future generations,” according to Infantino.
Supermodel Heidi Klum and actor Kevin Hart will co-host, while performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, and the Village People are scheduled. NFL legend Tom Brady, hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal will assist in conducting the draw.
Trump Turns World Cup into Political Spotlight
Trump has framed the tournament as part of both his second presidency campaign and the US 250th independence anniversary celebrations.
He has threatened to relocate World Cup matches from Democratic-led cities if conditions are “unsafe.”
“I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, let’s move it to another location. And he would do that,” Trump said.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will also attend the ceremony. Eleven of the 16 stadiums are in the US, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.
Initially, Iran announced a boycott after the US denied visas to part of its delegation, calling the move “purely political.”
The Iranian Football Federation later confirmed representatives, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei, would attend.
Top Seeds and First-Time Qualifiers
Argentina, winners of the 2022 World Cup, join top seeds Spain, Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, Netherlands, and Belgium. The three hosts—US, Mexico, and Canada—complete the first pot.
Several teams will debut in the World Cup, including Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curacao.
Former FIFA chief Sepp Blatter described the 48-team format as “the monster has been unleashed” in a recent interview.
Teams are divided into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group advance, alongside the eight best third-placed teams, forming the round of 32.
The draw ensures the four highest-ranked nations—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—cannot meet before the semi-finals. No group will contain more than one team from the same confederation, except UEFA.
Host group assignments are as follows:
- United States (Group D): Matches in Los Angeles and Seattle.
- Mexico (Group A): Games at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and Guadalajara, including the opening game on June 11.
- Canada (Group B): Games in Toronto and Vancouver.
With 50% more teams, the 2026 World Cup adds an extra knockout round. The 72 group-stage games will eliminate only 16 teams, while 32 proceed to the new round of 32.
Seeded Teams by Pot
- Pot 1: US, Mexico, Canada, 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, Curacao, Haiti, New Zealand, 4 x UEFA play-off winners, 2 x Intercontinental play-off winners
UEFA Play-offs: Semi-finals March 26; finals March 31.
Intercontinental Play-offs: Semi-finals March 26; finals March 31 in Mexico.
This World Cup is already mixing sports with politics. Trump’s influence, Iran’s visa issue, and the first 48-team format will mean the entire world will be paying attention.
Fans and first-time qualifiers alike will experience a tournament unlike any before, but sadly Nigeria missed out on the several opportunities given to them to be there.
