The stage is set for the biggest FIFA World Cup in history after the official draw ceremony took place at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. this Friday. The event mapped out the initial group stage for the unprecedented 48-nation tournament, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year.
Historic Firsts and Global Gathering
Four nations will make their maiden appearance on football's grandest stage in 2026: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan. Their inclusion underscores the global growth of the game, a point emphasised by FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development, Arsène Wenger. "I’m quite optimistic because to qualify you need to beat the other teams of your confederation, and that’s a sign of quality," the former Arsenal manager stated. "The teams are not there by coincidence."
The ceremonial draw was attended by a host of political leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The world's top 11 ranked teams have secured their places, with No. 12 Italy among 22 nations still battling in playoffs for the final six berths, to be decided by March 31.
Records in Sight and a New Tournament Format
Defending champions Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi—who will turn 39 during the competition—aim to become the first nation to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil in 1962. Messi also eyes the all-time scoring record, entering the tournament with 13 career World Cup goals, just three behind Miroslav Klose's record of 16.
The expansion to 48 teams introduces a new format: the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance, joined by the eight best third-place finishers. This structure means some nations could potentially reach the new round of 32 with just three points. The draw ensured that the top four ranked teams—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—will avoid each other until the semi-finals, provided they each win their initial group.
Scale, Scrutiny, and Soaring Costs
The tournament's sheer scale is monumental. Matches will be held at 11 NFL stadiums in the U.S., three venues in Mexico, and two in Canada, where BMO Field in Toronto is undergoing construction to add 17,000 temporary seats. FIFA expects total attendance to smash the existing record of 3.59 million set in 1994.
However, the event faces scrutiny over accessibility. FIFA announced initial ticket prices ranging from $60 to a staggering $6,730, a significant increase from the 1994 U.S. World Cup. The governing body has declined to release a full price list, a departure from its transparency in previous tournaments. Parking passes for a single match, such as a semi-final in Arlington, Texas, are being sold for up to $175.
Alan Rothenberg, head organiser of the 1994 event, reflected on its legacy: "We basically set the new tone in terms of attendance, in terms of surrounding the tournament with a lot of entertainment and glamour... as something other than just a soccer tournament." The 2026 edition, assisted in the draw ceremony by sporting legends like Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky, looks set to follow that blueprint on a far grander scale, as the world now awaits the specific fixture details to be announced this Saturday.
