It’s nothing new that FIFA organizes the group draw as a big event with a lot of fanfare, but now the world governing body is going one step further in terms of “entertainment.”
On Friday, the draw for the preliminary round groups for next summer’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada will take place in Washington, D.C. However, only the groups will be drawn at that time, with everything else to follow later. As FIFA confirmed on Monday, details such as venues and kick-off times for all 104 matches of the XXL tournament will be announced in another show on Saturday (6 p.m. CET).
The importance of the event to the world governing body is demonstrated by the fact that FIFA President Gianni Infantino himself will host the show. According to the association’s announcement, “FIFA legends and representatives of all 42 qualified teams and those still in the running will be present.” However, it is already certain that even after this event, not all information will be fully available, as the final schedule will not be finalized until March, after the last six World Cup tickets have been decided in the play-offs.
Ensuring “the best possible conditions”
On Friday, Germany will be one of the twelve group leaders in the draw at the John F. Kennedy Center, thus avoiding the supposedly toughest opponents in the preliminary round, such as defending champions Argentina, European champions Spain, England, and France, as well as the three hosts.
The venues for the World Cup, in which 48 nations will participate for the first time in history from June 11 to July 19, 2026, are spread across four time zones. FIFA’s goal is to enable as many fans as possible to watch their team’s games at a kickoff time that is acceptable to them in their home country. According to FIFA, this is why it is taking the time for the first time to determine the venues and kickoff times on a separate date in order to “ensure the best possible conditions for all teams and spectators.”