Overview
- The Zurich playoff draw on Nov. 20 will map four UEFA paths for four berths and an intercontinental route where six teams compete for two spots, with all games scheduled for Mar. 26–31, 2026.
- FIFA confirmed that seeding will follow the men’s world ranking published Nov. 19, and the six playoff winners will be represented as Pot 4 placeholders during the group draw.
- The group-stage draw takes place Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with hosts assigned to groups: Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B and the United States in Group D.
- Mexico is expected to host the intercontinental playoffs, a plan reported alongside ongoing venue preparations across the three host nations.
- Operational steps continue as FIFA-verified Team Base Camps come online, including Territorio Santos Modelo in Torreón, which club officials say has been visited by Portugal and the Netherlands, and Mexican clubs in Guadalajara and Monterrey prepare to vacate stadiums ahead of 2026.