Overview
- The ceremony begins at 6 p.m. CET at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where 12 groups will be drawn for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- Teams are allocated into four pots by FIFA ranking, with hosts USA, Canada and Mexico in Pot 1 alongside top-ranked nations, and Germany seeded as a group head.
- Playoff winners will occupy Pot 4 placeholders, with the final six berths decided in March before the schedule is locked.
- Confederation limits apply to the draw, allowing only one team per confederation in a group except that up to two UEFA teams may be placed together.
- The 2026 finals feature 48 teams in 12 groups of four, with 32 advancing to the knockouts comprising group winners, runners-up and the eight best third-placed teams.