The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage will take place today (December 5, 2025) at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. The event is scheduled to begin at 12:00 PM EST (10:30 PM IST) here.
This tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring 48 teams. Over 39 days, 104 matches will take place. The tournament kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the final set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
FIFA has confirmed the new format for the draw: there will be 12 groups of 4 teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the best 8 third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage (Round of 32).
In India, there will be no television broadcast of the draw. However, fans can watch the live stream via FIFA+ and the official FIFA World Cup social media channels, including YouTube.