Overview
- The final draw begins at the Kennedy Center at noon ET, with global broadcasts and a celebrity-led ceremony featuring Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum and sports stars assisting the proceedings.
- President Donald Trump is set to attend as FIFA presents its inaugural Peace Prize, whose recipient was not officially announced ahead of the event.
- The expanded tournament places 48 teams into 12 groups of four, with the top two and eight best third-placed teams advancing to a new Round of 32.
- Hosts are pre-assigned to group slots for scheduling — Mexico A1, Canada B1 and USA D1 — with four seeded pots published and six March playoff winners occupying placeholders in Pot 4.
- FIFA will release the detailed match schedule and kick-off times on Saturday, as human rights scrutiny intensifies after HRW reported an ICE detention near MetLife Stadium during a July club final.