Overview

• The group-stage draw will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as announced by President Donald Trump alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
• Trump made the announcement from the Oval Office, presenting the event as the launch showcase for the 2026 tournament across North America.
• The new venue confirmation supersedes previous reports that pointed to Las Vegas’s Sphere as the host location for the draw.
• The opening match is slated for Mexico City’s Estadio Banorte, formerly Estadio Azteca, with Mexico scheduled to play an opponent to be determined.
• The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams in 16 host cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.