The biggest FIFA World Cup in history is almost here. With the 2026 edition expanding to 48 teams for the first time, the official draw will set the stage for a blockbuster tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Fans worldwide are eagerly waiting to see how the groups will shape up — and Indian viewers can catch all the action live.
Here is everything you need to know: IST timings, where to watch the draw in India, streaming platforms, and the complete list of draw pots.
Contents
- 1 ⭐ When and Where Is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw?
- 2 🕙 FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Timing in India (IST)
- 3 📺 Where to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw in India?
- 4 🌍 Who Has Qualified So Far?
- 5 🏆 How the Draw Works
- 6 🇲🇽🇨🇦🇺🇸 Host Nations’ Groups (Already Assigned)
- 7 ⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Pots
- 8 🎬 How to Follow the FIFA World Cup Draw Live
⭐ When and Where Is the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw?
The draw ceremony takes place in Washington DC on Friday, 5 December 2025. The event will also feature high-profile attendees, including the President of the United States Donald Trump and several global football icons.
A full match schedule for the World Cup will be released one day after the draw.
🕙 FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Timing in India (IST)
📅 Date: Friday, 5 December 2025
⏰ Time: 10:30 PM IST
Indian fans can tune in right from late evening to catch the group formation live as it happens.
📺 Where to Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw in India?
🚫 On TV:
There is no TV broadcast of the World Cup draw on any Indian sports channel.
📱 Live Streaming in India:
You can watch the draw LIVE on:
- FIFA+ app (free and global)
- FIFA’s official YouTube channel
- FIFA.com
Both mobile viewers and desktop users in India can stream the event without any subscription required.
🌍 Who Has Qualified So Far?
- 42 teams have already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup.
- 6 spots remain open and will be decided in FIFA and UEFA playoff matches scheduled for March 2026.
- A total of 22 teams — including 16 from Europe — are still in contention for those final berths.
This will finalize the full list of 48 teams for the biggest World Cup ever.
🏆 How the Draw Works
Teams are split into four pots of 12 teams each, based on FIFA rankings. The three host countries — USA, Canada, and Mexico — are automatically placed in Pot 1.
For the first time, FIFA has implemented a special seeding protection system:
➡️ Spain, Argentina, France, and England cannot meet each other until the semi-finals, provided all of them top their respective groups.
🇲🇽🇨🇦🇺🇸 Host Nations’ Groups (Already Assigned)
- Mexico → Group A
- Canada → Group B
- United States → Group D
Other teams will be drawn into their groups on the night.
⚽ FIFA World Cup 2026 Draw Pots
Pot 1
Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2
Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3
Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4
Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, UEFA Playoff A, B, C, D, Intercontinental Playoff 1, Intercontinental Playoff 2
🎬 How to Follow the FIFA World Cup Draw Live
SportXPlus.com will bring you:
✔ Live updates during the draw
✔ Group-by-group analysis
✔ Reaction from players, legends, and analysts
✔ Updated fixtures once released by FIFA
