2026 World Cup Draw Set for February 22, Determining Path to Tournament Expansion
The official draw for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on February 22, 2024, in Miami, Florida, setting the stage for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This draw is pivotal as it will determine the qualifying routes for nations across CONCACAF, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and South America, solidifying their chances to compete in the first 48-team World Cup.
The draw’s meaning extends beyond simply filling out the bracket. With the tournament expanding from 32 to 48 teams, more nations than ever before have an opportunity to reach the World Cup finals. The event will allocate slots based on confederation rankings and performance,impacting the competitive landscape and offering a broader range of countries a pathway to football’s biggest stage. Several teams are still vying for qualification, including those navigating the Intercontinental repechage.
Currently, the Intercontinental Repechage is scheduled for March 26-31. Monterrey will host a mini-tournament featuring Bolivia, Suriname, and Iraq, while Guadalajara will host Jamaica, New Caledonia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The winners of thes two mini-tournaments will secure the final spots in the 2026 World Cup.
Key matchups in the Repechage include New Caledonia versus Jamaica, with the winner facing the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Bolivia versus Suriname, with the winner facing Iraq.
The draw ceremony will begin at 7:00 PM EST and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Telemundo in the United States, as well as streamed on FIFA+. Global broadcast details will be announced by FIFA closer to the event date.
