New York: Football fans worldwide are gearing up for one of the biggest moments ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the official group draw, which will determine which teams will face each other in the tournament. The draw will be held today at the John F. Kennedy Center in the United States at 10:30 PM IST.
Supporters can watch the event live on FIFA.com and the FIFA YouTube channel. The ceremony will see the presence of major global figures including U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, along with representatives from 64 countries, even though only 48 teams will compete in the World Cup.
In this expanded-format World Cup, the 48 participating teams have been divided into four pots of 12 teams each. The draw will place one team from each pot into 12 groups, labeled from Group A to Group L. This format ensures balanced competition and widespread global representation. The top nine teams in the latest FIFA rankings are expected to be placed in separate groups to avoid early heavyweight clashes.
Out of the 48 slots, 42 teams have already qualified, while the remaining six will secure their spots through upcoming playoff matches. Europe will claim four spots via its playoff rounds, while the last two teams will qualify through the intercontinental playoffs. Sixteen European nations are currently battling it out for these final positions.
With the draw set for tonight, excitement is at an all-time high as football lovers await the first glimpse of the World Cup groups.
