Overview
- The ceremony features celebrity hosts and U.S. President Donald Trump, with multiple outlets reporting FIFA plans to present its inaugural Peace Prize during the event.
- Co-hosts Mexico, Canada and the United States are pre-assigned to Groups A, B and D under the expanded 48-team format that sends 32 teams into the knockout stage.
- Pots are set by FIFA rankings, confederation rules cap groups at two UEFA teams and one from any other region, and pre-determined group positions will streamline the process.
- FIFA has kept the top four ranked sides — Spain, Argentina, France and England — on separate semifinal paths provided they win their groups.
- FIFA will publish the full match schedule and kick-off times on Saturday, with the opener at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.