The 2026 World Cup draw will introduce a new seeded bracket system for its top four teams: Spain, Argentina, France, and England, aimed at ensuring they don't meet until the semifinals. The tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will see its first-ever 48-team lineup drawing in Washington, D.C.
The 2026 World Cup is set to make history with its innovative tournament draw, rewarding the four highest-ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France, and England. These teams will occupy separate sections in a novel seeded tournament bracket designed to keep them apart until the semifinals, provided they top their round-robin groups.
This groundbreaking approach by FIFA aims to bring competitive balance and was confirmed in a statement. By separating top-ranked teams, FIFA seeks to reward consistent performance, allowing defending champion Argentina and a strong Spain side to potentially clash only in the final at MetLife Stadium.
The aforementioned draw ceremony for the inaugural 48-team World Cup will occur on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump. With venues ranging across 16 cities, and 11 of them being NFL stadiums, anticipation builds as teams like Italy could emerge as unpredictable forces from lower-ranked seed pots.