World stars to conduct the draw for the 2026 World Cup: start time and where to watch

Dec 5, 2025 - 11:48

The draw for the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on December 5, 2025, in Washington, USA. The ceremony will begin at 20:00 Ashgabat time.

A ceremony like a real show

The event will not just be a sports ceremony but a full-fledged three-hour entertainment show. The ceremony will be hosted by well-known personalities: German supermodel and TV presenter Heidi Klum, American actor Kevin Hart, and producer Danny Ramirez.

Among the guests will be global music stars: Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, British singer Robbie Williams, and former Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger. Their performances will be part of the festive program held at one of the most prestigious cultural venues in the United States.

Famous athletes will also take part in the draw: former England captain Rio Ferdinand, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, four-time Stanley Cup winner Wayne Gretzky, and four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. President Donald Trump will also appear on stage.

Countries participating in the World Cup

The ceremony will take place despite the fact that currently only 42 out of 48 teams have qualified. For the first time, the tournament will feature 12 groups of four teams. FIFA has already approved the composition of the 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, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia.
Pot 3: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa.
Pot 4: Jordan, Cape Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, and six playoff winners.

The remaining six spots will be contested in spring 2026 among 22 national teams: 16 in European playoffs and 6 in the intercontinental tournament.

European playoffs (mini-tournaments):

Path A: Italy — Northern Ireland / Wales — Bosnia and Herzegovina
Path B: Ukraine — Sweden / Poland — Albania
Path C: Türkiye — Romania / Slovakia — Kosovo
Path D: Denmark — North Macedonia / Czech Republic — Ireland

Semifinals will be held on March 26, and finals on March 31, 2026. Hosts of the first matches have been determined according to FIFA rankings.