July 30, 2025: The official start of the path to the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be on Thursday, December 5, in Las Vegas. The draw ceremony will decide the groups for the 48-team competition. This is the second time Las Vegas has hosted the World Cup draw. The first time was in 1994, when the United States last had the rights to host the tournament.
The next World Cup will have 48 teams from 12 different countries, which is more than ever before. The US, Canada, and Mexico will all host the tournament. The best two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams will move on to a new Round of 32 in this revised format.
The Sphere, a magnificent 17,500-seat entertainment arena that debuted in 2023, was once thought to be a strong candidate for the draw ceremony. However, current sources say it may not be the chosen destination because of schedule difficulties. FIFA has not yet officially confirmed the last venue in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas will host the highly anticipated draw, just like it did in 1994, even though it wasn’t chosen to host any matches in the 2026 tournament itself.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina will be the defending champions when they enter the competition. They won their third World Cup title in Qatar at the FIFA World Cup 2022, ending a drought that had lasted over three decades with their eight-time Ballon d’Or winner leading the way. Football fans all across the world will be excited to see how the groups for the biggest World Cup ever will turn out on December 5.