The draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place on December 5 in Washington. This was announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suddenly showed a photo of himself with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. “The name of this man is Vladimir Putin, who I assume will come, depending on what happens,”
Trump said regarding the 2026 World Cup. It is also tied to negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. However, after Ukraine’s intense diplomatic efforts, Trump has now lowered expectations. He said he would wait and see whether there would be a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump is not sure whether his presence is necessary.
He would prefer not to attend. But Not Las Vegas Returning to the World Cup draw: the Republican announced the Kennedy Center cultural institution in the U.S. capital as the venue. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also participated in announcing the draw’s location. Recently, there had been speculation that the draw would take place in Las Vegas, where the last World Cup in the United States was drawn in 1994.
The tournament, featuring 48 nations across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, will be held in the summer of 2026. The opening match is scheduled for June 11 in Mexico City. The final will take place on July 19 in East Rutherford, near New York.
In addition to the three host nations, ten other countries have qualified so far. From South America, alongside world champions Argentina, Ecuador and record winners Brazil will also be there. Australia, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and New Zealand have also booked their tickets. By the time of the draw, only 42 of the 48 participants will have been determined. The remaining six nations — including four from Europe — will not secure their tickets until March 2026 in the playoff matches.
