FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw, Odds, and Which Nations Have Qualified?

Soccer

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The field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is taking shape, with 42 of the 48 nations that will compete across the Americas having been finalized.

All eyes will be on Washington D.C. at the start of December, as the countdown to the start of the competition gathers pace when the draw for the group stage is completed.

However, you can find everything you need to know about the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw and which nations have qualified here. You can also find the latest outright winner odds, and our early pick.

FIFA World Cup Winner Odds

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When Is The FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw?

Fans of qualified nations will not have to wait long to find out who their team could draw in the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The draw for the group stage will be made at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on Friday, December 5, 2025.

The ceremony will get underway at 12:00 PM ET, with viewers in North America able to watch live on Peacock. Meanwhile, fans can also tune into FIFA’s Official YouTube channel to find a live stream.

How Does The FIFA World Cup Draw Work?

A prolonged draw process is expected in Washington, as for the first time, 48 nations will be represented at the FIFA World Cup, marking an increase from the 32 that have contested previously.

However, the draw will work straightforwardly, with each qualified team placed into one of four pots based on the FIFA rankings. Pot One will include the top nine countries and the three hosts.

Teams from the same confederation can’t be drawn together, except in UEFA, where two nations from Europe can be placed in the same group. A total of 12 groups will be in operation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Mexico playing in Group A, and the USA and Canada playing in Groups D and B, respectively.

FIFA World Cup Seedings: Which Nations Have Qualified?

Just six places are left at next summer’s World Cup, meaning that the vast majority of representatives are already known.

Leading hopes such as Spain, England, Brazil, Argentina, and France will all be involved in Pot 1. Meanwhile, two of the smallest nations to ever gain qualification, Cape Verde and Curacao, will be seeded in Pot 4.

The expected seedings for the FIFA World Cup Draw in December can be found below.

FIFA World Cup Playoffs

The remaining six spots in the tournament will be determined during the March international break, as the European and Inter-Confederation Playoffs will be contested. However, it is expected that the winners from all paths will drop in Pot 4.

Four World Cup spots are on offer in the European route, with one-legged semi-finals and a final required to get through to the tournament next summer.

The 16 European nations in the playoffs are- Italy, Poland, Romania, Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Sweden, Wales, Czech Republic, Turkey, Bosnia, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Slovakia, Northern Ireland.

Two routes to the World Cup are offered in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs, with DR Congo and Iraq both having already secured spots in the final. The draw to determine the paths for nations such as Bolivia, New Caledonia, Suriname, and Jamaica, will be made on Thursday, November 20.

Early FIFA World Cup 2026 Pick

An accurate prediction of who will win the FIFA World Cup can be made once the draw is complete. However, Portugal could be a nation set to excel in the Americas.

They have a talented roster, including Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Rafael Leao, and their possession-based game could be perfectly suited to the extreme conditions expected next summer.

Free Pick:

• Portugal (+1100)