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FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Explainer: Teams, Pots and How Groups Will Be Decided
FIFA’s new seeding splits top four ranked teams into separate knockout paths to maintain competitive balance, with 42 of 48 teams confirmed for the 2026 World Cup.
- On Friday, the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with four pots of 12 teams forming 12 groups of four.
- Because the tournament expanded to 48 teams, the draw process lengthened and FIFA introduced a rule placing the top four teams in separate bracket sections to ensure competitive balance.
- Pot details show the hosts are in Pot 1 with Canada, Mexico, USA plus nine top-ranked qualifiers, while Pot 4 reserves six play-off slots for undecided qualifiers.
- FIFA's new seeding means the Three Lions could avoid Spain and Argentina until the semi-finals, with the full schedule announced on Saturday, December 6.
- Forty-Two teams have qualified, with the final six to be decided in March play-offs, as 16 host cities will stage 104 matches in the biggest World Cup ever.
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FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw: How Does It Work? Pots, Rules, Format
The FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C., marks the official launch of the expanded 48-team edition. With 12 groups to be filled and strict confederation rules in play, know all about how the FIFA World Cup draw works, including the pots, rules, and format
·New Delhi, India
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In Washington, the groups of the 2026 World Cup will be drawn. Who is in what pot? Which opponents are threatening Germany? How is the show going? And why is there a second one on Saturday?
·Frankfurt, Germany
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Left, 45% Center
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Left, 45% of the sources are Center
46% Left
L 46%
C 45%
Factuality
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