The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw ceremony took place in the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. last Friday, December 5th, with President Donald Trump attending the event. The grand football event marked a significant milestone in the lead-up to the largest World Cup ever to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were present at the draw ceremony, joining FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the red carpet. During the ceremony, Trump was awarded the inaugural “Peace Award” by FIFA.
In November, FIFA announced the introduction of this annual new award aimed at recognizing individuals who have shown extraordinary actions for peace and unity globally.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also attended the draw ceremony. Given the differences among the three countries in the preparation for the tournament, the interactions between the three leaders drew widespread attention.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, setting a new record in its history. The draw ceremony determined the positions of the top 3 teams in each of the 12 groups (Groups A-L), setting the stage for the upcoming tournament.
The opening match of the 2026 World Cup has been confirmed to take place in Mexico City on June 11th, where the host team Mexico will face South Africa in Group A.
Analysis suggests that Group I could be the potential “group of death,” comprising strong teams like France, African powerhouse Senegal, and Norway with superstar Erling Haaland. Fans can anticipate a top-class striker showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Haaland.
Record-making team Curacao, the country with the smallest population ever to qualify, has been drawn into Group E. They will face European giants Germany, fulfilling their dream of playing against top teams.
Five-time world champions Brazil have returned to Group C. Analysts caution that despite their recent low profile, under the legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil remains a strong contender for the title.
While the group stage opponents are set, fans are eager to know the match schedules and venues. The complete fixture list, including kickoff times and host stadiums for all matches, will be revealed in a live broadcast tomorrow in Washington D.C., starting at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on December 6th.
This World Cup is expected to mark the final tournament for two era-defining superstars.
38-year-old Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, aka C.Ronaldo, are set for their last World Cup appearances. Ronaldo has confirmed to CNN that this will be his final World Cup tournament.
As co-hosts, the U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) aims to advance to the knockout stages under coach Mauricio Pochettino. Team captain Tim Ream stated that the team is in good form, with a goal to leverage home advantage to further promote soccer in the U.S.
The ceremony concluded with a performance of the classic song “YMCA” by the Village People, marking the end of the grandest World Cup draw ceremony in history.