All eyes flip to Washington, D.C. on Friday, the place the 2026 World Cup draw will lastly kind the chaos into one thing resembling order. In a ceremony that will blend theater with tension, the match’s full group stage will likely be revealed, setting the early form of a 48-team competitors unfold throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.
For the U.S., the draw will decide the USMNT’s opening route — its group, its first opponents and the preliminary boundaries between Mauricio Pochettino’s squad and the knockout rounds. For each group, the outcomes Friday will affect preparation, expectations and the primary outlines of the match’s narratives.
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We’ll be following the draw because it occurs, offering live updates, confirmed outcomes, full teams and the important context as every pot is emptied. Follow alongside beneath because the 2026 World Cup area takes its remaining type.
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Alexis Guerreros, Christian Polanco
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Sean Leahy
Numerous celebrities will likely be in attendance for the draw, together with legendary referee Pierluigi Collina.
Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal will be assisting Rio Ferdinand and broadcaster Samantha Johnson within the draw proceedings.
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Sean Leahy
Pots 1-4 are set, and the distribution shapes practically each storyline right this moment. Pot 1 homes the heavyweights and co-hosts. Pot 2 is stacked with harmful second-tier nations. Pot 3 has volatility (group’s that may damage somebody’s day). And Pot 4 is a wild-card combine .
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Before the present begins a fast refresher: groups are positioned into 4 pots primarily based on FIFA rankings. Once the draw commences, groups will likely be positioned into one among 12, four-team teams. Each group can embrace just one nation per area outdoors of Europe. With 48 groups (six of which nonetheless should qualify throughout March’s playoffs) and 12 teams, the mechanics matter — particularly for the USMNT, which may draw just one South American group and cannot share a gaggle with one other CONCACAF nation.
We’ll stroll you although all of it as teams replenish live.
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Steven Goff
WASHINGTON — Because heads of state, together with President Trump, are attending Friday’s World Cup draw, media members and invited friends had been subjected to Secret Service screening a block from the Kennedy Center.
Washington’s first snow of the season added a reasonably backdrop and helped calm nerves for the shivering a whole bunch who waited as much as two hours to go by safety.
In one screening line, all the things momentarily got here to a halt as an officer pulled apart a person passing by the steel detector. It was not an emergency, nevertheless; moderately, the officer needed to pose for a photograph with former U.S. nationwide group striker Charlie Davies.
“He scored at Azteca!” the officer remarked to these ready their flip.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
We’ll be right here all day with updates, context and on the spot evaluation because the 48-team match’s full set of teams is revealed. The ceremony begins in a single hour, however we’ll spend the lead=up breaking down the draw pots, the principles the groups to observe and what the USMNT’s doable paths appear like. The actual motion begins quickly!
How to observe the FIFA World Cup draw
When: Friday, Dec. 5, 12 p.m. ET
Where: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.
TV: Fox
Streaming: Fox One, DirecTV