World Cup 2026 draw: which teams have qualified and how does it work?

Your essential guide to Friday’s draw in Washington DC, including where to watch it, who to watch out for and a look at Fifa’s peace prize.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Pic: Sam Corum/PA Wire.

When does the World Cup draw take place?

The World Cup draw will start at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center at 12pm local time on Friday 5 December (5pm Irish time). Although don’t worry if you tune in late: based on previous draws there will be a few speeches about Fifa being on the verge of bringing about world peace via the medium of football, some interpretive dance about Fifa being on the verge of bringing about world peace via the medium of football, some videos with kids kicking a ball about to show that Fifa is on the verge of bringing about world peace via the medium of football, and then, hopefully, Fifa actually bringing about world peace via the medium of football. And if you miss any of that, don’t worry; Fifa will also be awarding a peace prize to the person most likely to bring about world peace in the next few months (more on that zinger later). At some point in all of that, they’ll place teams into groups and at long last give this expanded tournament an actual schedule.