- Share via
Here’s how to buy tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
WASHINGTON — The schedule and matchups for the 72 first-round games of the 2026 FIFA World Cup were set Saturday, determining the potential routes teams will need to take to get to the knockout stages. Here is how to buy tickets for the tournament.
Buy World Cup tickets directly from FIFA
The safest place to start is with the official FIFA website, where fans will need a FIFA ID to apply for tickets. To get one, go to the FIFA ticketing website (FIFA.com/tickets), click the person icon, and then click “SIGN UP” to create an account with your personal details. You will need to confirm your email address to complete the process.
- Share via
Who will play World Cup matches in L.A.? Iran, Belgium, Switzerland and more join U.S.
WASHINGTON — In soccer terms, the schedule for the 2026 World Cup is probably something of a draw for the Los Angeles host committee. The U.S. will play two of its three group-play games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, which is good. But Brazil, Germany, France and England and defending champion Argentina will travel no farther west than Dallas during the first round, which is bad.
Instead, Iran and New Zealand, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, will play in two of the other five first-round games in Southern California. Not exactly the teams organizers hoped for.
- Share via
U.S. couldn’t have asked for a more favorable 2026 World Cup draw
WASHINGTON — Friday’s World Cup draw couldn’t have gone much better for U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. In a star-studded two-hour ceremony held at the Kennedy Center, Americans were grouped with Paraguay and Australia, teams they beat in the last two months, along with the winner of a European playoff featuring Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.
“We’ve already done the homework because it’s fresh,” Pochettino said. “We know them but they know us. The most important thing is evolution and improving in all the areas for us to be sure that, in our debut, we will be stronger than today.
“I’ve been looking forward to the World Cup. We start today.”
- Share via
Mexico City declares itself the ‘soul of the World Cup’ as its preps to host 2026 matches
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mexico City is finalizing preparations for the 2026 World Cup, with Estadio Azteca set to become the first venue to host matches during three World Cup tournaments. It was previously the scene of Pelé’s triumph in 1970 and Diego Maradona’s Cup win in 1986.
Neither of the other two Mexican venues existed when Mexico hosted the tournament before: The Estadio Akron in Guadalajara was founded in 2010 as the home of Liga MX team Chivas de Guadalajara, and the Estadio BBVA was inaugurated in 2015 as the home of the Liga MX team Rayados del Monterrey.
- Share via
Who is in the ‘Group of Death’ at the 2026 World Cup?
The toughest road to a potential World Cup title might come from Group I. The group has France, Senegal and Norway, plus the interconfedeation winner between Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq.
However, it might not be so clear-cut: Group C with Brazil and Morocco (in addition to Scotland and Haiti) should be an interesting one as will Group E (Germany, Ecuador) and H (Spain, Uruguay).
- Share via
World Cup draw wraps up: Here’s a look at each group
Here’s a look at the finalized groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, Shaquille O’Neal and Tom Brady assisted former England soccer captain Rio Ferdinand in conducting the draw.
Group A
Mexico
Mexico, the only nation to play host to three World Cups, made it to the quarterfinals the first time two times, in 1970 and 1986. But it will end the year with a six-game winless streak, one short of the worst slide in team history.
South Africa
This will be South Africa’s fourth World Cup appearance and first since 2010, when it became the only African team to host the tournament. In its three previous trips South Africa went out in group play each time.
South Korea
South Korea, the only Asian country to reach the semifinals of a World Cup, is captained by LAFC forward Son Heung-min. The Koreans have qualified for 11 consecutive World Cups, a streak beaten only by Germany, Brazil, Spain and Argentina.
European playoff winner D (Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic or Ireland)
Group B
- Share via
Kevin Baxter shares his thoughts on the United States’ path in the 2026 World Cup and what teams might have the toughest trek in group play.
Canada
Canada has not won a World Cup game in two trips to the tournament but was ranked 26th in the world by FIFA in September, its highest ranking ever.
European playoff winner A (Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Qatar
Qatar made an ignominious World Cup debut four years ago when it became just the second nation, after South Africa in 2010, to be eliminated in the first round. But that tournament brought additional attention and funding to the team, which won the last two Asian Cups and reached the final eight of the last two CONCACAF Gold Cups.
Switzerland
Don’t sleep on the Swiss, who made the quarterfinals of the last two Euros and advanced to the first knockout stage in the last three World Cups before rolling through their qualifying tournament unbeaten.
Group C
Brazil
The World Cup’s only five-time champion, Brazil has gone five tournaments without reaching a final. That only other time that happened, it ended the slide by hoisting the trophy in Pasadena in 1994. With the final returning to the U.S., will history repeat?
Morocco
Morocco hadn’t won a World Cup game this century before stunning the field in Qatar, where it became the first African team and first Muslim country to reach the tournament semifinals. The Atlas Lions won’t sneak up on anybody next summer after outscoring opponents 22-2 in a dominant World Cup qualifying campaign.
Haiti
Haiti is returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 when it lost all three group-stage games. And Les Grenadiers qualified despite having to play all of their games on the road because of the unrest and violence at home.
Scotland
The expansion of the World Cup field from 32 to 48 teams helped Scotland qualify for the first time this century and 10th time overall. The Tartan Army have yet to advance beyond group play in either a World Cup or European Championship.
Group D
United States
The co-host, staging the men’s World Cup for the first time in 32 years, has made it to the round of 16 in four of the five World Cups it has played in this century. But it’s gotten to the final eight just once. The U.S. will open against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12. It will then play Australia on June 19 in Seattle.
Paraguay
Paraguay’s best World Cup performance came in 2010, when it won just once but managed to reach the quarterfinals by beating Japan on penalty kicks. That was also the last appearance in this tournament for the South Americans, who grabbed CONMEBOL’s sixth and final automatic World Cup berth in September.
Australia
The Socceroos, playing in their sixth straight World Cup, advanced to the knockout round for just the second time four years ago in Qatar, where it lost to eventual runner-up France in group play and to eventual champion Argentina in the round of 16.
European playoff winner C (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo)
Group E
Germany
Only Brazil has played — or won — more World Cup games than Germany, a four-time champion. But Die Mannschaft was eliminated in the group stage of the last two tournaments, winning just twice in six games.
Curacao
A former Dutch colony (72), Curacao became a constituent country with the Kingdom of the Netherlands 15 years ago. It played its first international match in 2011 and will be playing in its first World Cup. With a population of less than 160,000, it is the smallest country ever to qualify for the tournament.
Ivory Coast
An unbeaten run through their qualifying group earned the Elephants their first World Cup berth since 2014. Ivory Coast is the reigning champion of the Africa Cup of Nations.
Ecuador
A surprising second-place finish in South American qualifying, trailing only Argentina, has Ecuador back in the World Cup for a second straight tournament. Ecuador’s last loss came nearly 15 months ago, when it fell to Brazil 1-0. Since then it has it unbeaten in 15 matches, including 10 against World Cup teams.
Group F
Netherlands
The Dutch, ranked seventh in the world, were finalists in 2010 and semifinals four years later. They also made the final four of the most recent European Championships.
Japan
The Samurai Blue, which have never gone beyond the Round of 16 in a World Cup, have served noticed it will be a force to be reckoned with next summer by beating World Cup qualifiers Ghana, South Korea and Brazil and drawing Mexico and Paraguay in the last six months.
European playoff winner B (Ukraine, Sweden, Poland or Albania)
Tunisia
Among African nations only Cameroon has played in more World Cups than Tunisia, who will be making its seventh trip to the tournament next summer. Tunisia has never made it past the group stage although it had a bizarre tournament four years ago in Qatar when it lost just one game and gave up just one goal but failed to advance despite beating France, the eventual runner-up.
Group G
Belgium
Aging Belgium washed out in the group stage in the last World Cup, began rebuilding, then made the round of 16 in the Euros two years later when it fielded one of the youngest teams in the tournament. It rolled though World Cup qualifying unbeaten.
Egypt
Africa’s oldest national team and a seven-time winner of the continent’s Cup of Nations, Egypt is appearing in the World Cup for the second time since 1990 and fourth time overall and is still looking for its first victory. It will be led by Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, the Premier League’s reigning scoring champion.
Iran
Iran reached the top 18 of the FIFA world rankings for the first time in nearly two decades last year after finishing third in the last two Asian Cups. A Christian Pulisic goal in a 1-0 U.S. victory is the only thing that kept Iran from advancing to the knockout rounds four years ago in Qatar.
New Zealand
The All Whites, at 86th in the latest FIFA rankings, are the highest-ranked team to qualify for the tournament. New Zealand played in just two previous World Cups, in 2010 and 1982, and is still looking for its first win.
Group H
Spain
The 2010 World Cup winner and reigning European champion is ranked No. 1 in the world by FIFA and is among the favorites to win next summer. Spain hasn’t lost in 31 matches, dating to March 2023.
Cape Verde
A World Cup debutante Cape Verde, with just over half a million people, became the smallest nation to qualify for the tournament when it secured its berth in mid October. (Curacao beat that record a month later). A former Portuguese colony, Cape Verde became an independent country in 1975 and played its first international match three years later.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia became the first Arab Asian team to reach the round of 16 the last time the World Cup was played in the U.S. in 1994. The Arabian Falcons haven’t gotten out of group play since that debut appearance despite scoring the biggest victory in their history four years in Qatar when they upset eventual champion Argentina in the first round.
Uruguay
Uruguay is a two-time world champion but its last title came before the start of the Korean War. More recently La Celeste has made it as far as the quarterfinals twice in the last four tournaments and after fielding one of the oldest teams in Qatar, Uruguay could field one of the youngest rosters in 2026.
Group I
France
The 2018 champion and 2022 runner-up is looking to join Brazil and West Germany as the only countries to play in three consecutive World Cup finals.
Senegal
Senegal is a nation on the rise. It won the Africa Cup in 2021 and the African Nations Championship a year later, entering the top 18 in the FIFA world rankings for the first time, then qualified for the World Cup for just the fourth time this century.
Interconfederation playoff winner 2 (Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq)
Norway
Norway’s first World Cup qualification this century will give Manchester City’s phenomenal forward Erling Haaland, Norway’s all-time leading scorer, a chance to show his stuff on the world stage. Just 25, Haaland has more goals for club and country than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi had at the same age.
Group J
Argentina
The defending World Cup champions, led by Lionel Messi, are looking to become the first repeat winners since Brazil in 1958-62.
Algeria
Algeria, which dominated its World Cup qualifying competition, last played in this tournament in 2014 when it advanced to the round of 16.
Austria
Austria breezed through its UEFA qualifying bracket, outscoring its four opponents 22-4 to reach the World Cup for the first time this century. It last qualified in 1998 and the country’s last World Cup win came in 1990.
Jordan
Jordan will be making its World Cup debut next summer after placing second in its group in the Asian qualifying tournament. That followed a second-place finish in the most recent Asian Cup in 2023.
Group K
Portgual
The World Cup is the only major trophy Cristiano Ronaldo has never won. He’ll turn 41 in February, four months before joining Messi as the only men in play in the tournament six times.
Interconfederation playoff winner 1 (New Caldonia, Jamaica, DR Congo)
Uzbekistan
A former Soviet republic that didn’t become an independent member of FIFA until 1994, Uzbekistan will be playing in its first World Cup. It reached the quarterfinals in five of the last six recent Asian Cup tournaments
Colombia
Colombia, the runner-up in last year’s Copa América , is back in the World Cup after failing to qualify four years ago. In the six tournaments Los Cafeteros have played in, they’ve advanced beyond the first knockout round just once.
Group L
England
England made its only appearance in the final 60 years ago but it is showing signs of a revival, having reached the quarterfinals in Qatar and the semifinals in Russia.
Croatia
The runner-up in 2018 and a semifinalist in 2022, Croatia has one more shot to get a world title for captain Luka Modric and vice captain Ivan Perisic, who are likely playing in the tournament for the final time.
Ghana
The Black Stars made their World Cup debut in 2006 and have missed the tournament just once since. Ghana’s roster includes Galaxy winger Joseph Paintsil.
Panama
Panama is making just its second appearance in the World Cup. In its first visit in 2018, the Central Americans lost all three group-stage games, getting outscored 11-2.
- Share via
President Trump awarded FIFA’s peace prize
FIFA leader Gianni Infantino presented President Trump FIFA’s first Peace Prize on Friday at a packed Kennedy Center ahead of the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which is returning to the U.S. for the first time in 32 years.
Infantino announced the creation of the Peace Prize last month to “recognize exceptional actions for peace.” The controversial decision to award it to Trump has widely been interpreted as another attempt by FIFA to curry favor with the president, who has made no secret of his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
In honoring Trump, FIFA noted the president’s actions “to pursue peace around the world,” including his work in bringing about a ceasefire in Gaza.
“This is what we want from a leader, a leader that cares about the people,” Infantino said. “We want to live in a safe world. That’s what we do here today. That’s what we do at the World Cup, Mr. President. And you definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way.
“You can always count on my support, on the support of the entire football community, or soccer community, to help you make peace and make your work prosper.”
Trump thanked Infantino, calling the award “one of the great honors of my life,” before making a rambling 2½-minute speech in which he referenced World Cup ticket sales, lauded his oft-contentious relationships with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and repeated his claim that the U.S. “is the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
Critics of the decision to give the award to Trump, including many in FIFA, point to the president’s ban on travel to the U.S. by citizens of 19 countries — including World Cup qualifiers Iran and Haiti — the deployment of troops and ICE agents to American cities and his administration’s continuing military campaign against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, actions that have killed at least 80 people.
Infantino’s embrace of the U.S. leader has caused concern and unease among many global soccer officials, who worry that FIFA has abandoned the group’s mandated political neutrality.
Infantino had a front-row seat at Trump’s inauguration last January and has been a frequent visitor to the White House, where he presented the president with a replica of the World Cup trophy and the original Club World Cup trophy, forcing FIFA to give Chelsea, the tournament champion last July, a replica of the $230,000 gold-plated award.
Infantino was the only sports figure to travel to Egypt for the Gaza peace summit in October, and he rented office space in Trump’s office building in Manhattan — an office that remains mostly empty.
- Share via
Still waiting for the actual draw of the World Cup draw to begin
FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on stage to assist in the draw, which is closer to getting underway after nearly an hour of pomp and circumstance.
Each leader shared their thoughts on the importance of the World Cup, with Trump reminiscing about Pele’s time playing in New York before saying “we have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff” since soccer should really be called football.
Carney, Sheinbaum and Carney then each drew their respective countries in a ceremonial start to the draw — the groups for the U.S., Canada and Mexico were already known.
- Share via
FIFA World Cup draw show is underway
After an impressive opening performance from Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, the FIFA World Cup draw show officially got underway with an opening introduction from comedian Kevin Hart and model Heidi Klum.
After Hart made it clear he’s a “football” fan and not necessarily a soccer fan, FIFA President Gianni Infantino walked on the stage and did his best to convince his American audience that the World Cup is much, much bigger than the Super Bowl.
“This is like 104 Super Bowls in one month. This is the magnitude of what we organize,” Infantino said.
When the actual “draw” of the World Cup draw begins is anyone’s guess at this point.
- Share via
Trump says he doesn’t know if he’ll win FIFA’s peace prize
Much like it’s guaranteed Spain and Argentina will be on the opposite sides of the World Cup draw, it seems almost certain FIFA President Gianni Infantino will give President Trump FIFA’s newly created peace prize at some point during the draw proceedings.
Not so fast, says Trump.
When asked if he will be awarded the peace prize, Trump, in attendance at the Kennedy Center for the draw, said, “There’s a rumor about it, but I have not been told. That would be a great honor.”
- Share via
Plenty of politicians and sports stars will be at World Cup draw
President Trump, along with Mexican President Claudia Scheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, are all scheduled to be in attendance for the World Cup draw, but some notable sports stars will actually be helping on stage.
Former England soccer captain Rio Ferdinand is actually running the draw, and it’s clear FIFA wanted to play up to its North American hosts by bringing in familiar sports stars.
Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, Shaquille O’Neal and Wayne Gretzky will be helping Ferdinand on stage during the draw.
As for Trump, he’s still expected to play a central role in the draw. He is expected to receive FIFA’s newly created peace prize after FIFA President Gianni Infantino described Trump as a “close friend” last month.
- Share via
What we know about the 2026 World Cup so far
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will provide the clearest look yet at the field for next summer’s 48-team tournament, but some questions have already been answered.
Where will the first game of the 2026 World Cup be played?
Estadio Azteca in Mexico City will host Mexico’s Group A opener on June 11.
When and where will the U.S. play its first match?
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on June 12 when it begins Group D play.
When and where will Canada play its first game?
BMO Field in Toronto on June 12 to kick off Group B play.
In addition, defending champion Argentina — seeded second heading into the draw — will be on the opposite side of the draw from top-seeded Spain.
- Share via
Getting into the Kennedy Center for the World Cup draw is no easy feat
Getting into the Kennedy Center in Washington before the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is proving to be a test in patience.
With President Trump scheduled to be in attendance along with a host of notable names from across the sports and entertainment worlds, security at the venue is tight.
Long lines have formed outside the Kennedy Center in the hours ahead of the show.
- Share via
Members of the media wait in the snow outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington before the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw. (Eduard Cauich / Los Angeles Times)
- Share via
Reminder: World Cup field still hasn’t been completely determined
It would be easy — perhaps even rational — to think we’ll know every matchup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after today’s draw is finalized.
Unfortunately, that won’t be the case. Twenty-two teams are still vying for the final six slots in the World Cup field.
Sixteen of those teams, including four-time champion Italy, are in UEFA playing for four World Cup berths beginning in March. Here’s a breakdown of the UEFA matchups:
Playoff path A: Italy vs. Northern Ireland, Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina; winner of Wales-Bosnia hosts final.
Playoff path B: Ukraine vs. Sweden, Poland vs. Albania; winner of Ukraine-Sweden hosts final.
Playoff path C: Turkey vs. Romania, Slovakia vs. Kosovo; winner of Slovakia-Kosovo hosts final.
Playoff path D: Denmark vs. North Macedonia, Czechia vs. Republic of Ireland; winner of Czechia-Republic of Ireland hosts final.
In addition, two teams will advance to the World Cup from the interconfederation playoffs:
Playoff path A: New Caledonia vs. Jamaica, winner plays DR Congo
Playoff path B: Bolivia vs. Suriname, winner plays Iraq
- Share via
U.S. Soccer unveils new mascot ahead of World Cup draw
U.S. Soccer decided to unveil their new mascot hours ahead of the World Cup draw.
Deciding to go with an anthropomorphic dog look “inspired by the Chesapeake Bay Retriever,” the mascot definitely gives off a cheery vibe — and strikes a fine balance between fun and business when crossing its arms.
What’s it’s lacking is a name. So if you’re the type of the soccer fan that can come up with something better than Rex or Fido, U.S. Soccer would like to hear from you.
- Share via
California lawmakers flag concerns about World Cup visas, ban threats and ticket prices
WASHINGTON — With the World Cup just six months away and the tournament draw unfolding Friday, members of California’s congressional delegation are expressing concern about preparations for what will be the largest and most complex single-sport competition in history.
The tournament, which will feature 48 teams playing 104 games across the U.S., Mexico and Canada, offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the 11 U.S. host cities to both showcase themselves to the world and grab a slice of what FIFA estimates will be a $30.5-billion economic impact. But to take full advantage of that opportunity, organizers need government assistance on issues ranging from visas to security while also dealing with ticket prices far beyond the means of the average fan.
- Share via
World Cup 2026 a ‘massive opportunity’ to get the country ‘behind our team,’ Landon Donovan says
Landon Donovan can’t be sure he would have played international soccer had the World Cup not come to Pasadena in 1994, but he can say with certainty he wasn’t aware what international soccer was until then.
“I went to one game,” said Donovan, who was a 12-year-old prodigy the first time the World Cup was played in the U.S. “And I knew nothing — and I mean nothing — about soccer on the global scale. It opened my eyes because there was no soccer on TV, no internet. I didn’t know anything about it.”
Eight years after watching Romania eliminate Argentina at the Rose Bowl, Donovan was scoring the U.S. team’s final goal in the 2002 World Cup, helping the Americans reach the quarterfinals for the only time in the modern era.
- Share via
French artist Thieb Delaporte-Richard sees World Cup poster as a love letter to L.A.
For Thieb Delaporte-Richard, the Parisian cafe within walking distance of his home in Santa Monica was the best spot for an early-morning chat.
While standing in line, the aroma of baking croissants wafted, and the buzzing of espresso machines reverberated off the skeletal remains of an old church that now houses the café.
“This kind of feels like home, to be honest, and I think that’s the reason I like this place,” Delaporte-Richard said of both the cafe and Santa Monica.
- Share via
‘I don’t think L.A. knows what’s going to hit them.’ World Cup planning hits overdrive
For organizers of the 2026 World Cup, Friday’s tournament draw is a like the bell lap of a long-distance race, the moment when the slow slog turns into a sprint.
“This is going to be huge,” said Kathryn Schloessman, president and chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission. “This is going to be a big deal.”
Schloessman has been preparing for that big deal for most of the last eight years. Together with the local host committee and civic leaders, she helped secure eight games for SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, set up fanfests throughout the region, organized public transportation, found training centers for visiting teams and worked to establish a legacy program that will ensure the tournament’s influence continues well beyond the final match.
- Share via
How are the pots determined for the World Cup draw?
The host countries, the U.S., Canada and Mexico, were placed in Pot 1 and have already been assigned to specific groups. The U.S. will play its first game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Mexico will open in Mexico City and Canada in Toronto.
The top nine countries in the FIFA rankings make up the rest of the pot with the next 12 teams in Pot 2, and so forth.
Below are the pot assignments:
Sixteen teams, including four-time champion Italy, in UEFA are playing for four World Cup berths beginning in March. Here’s a breakdown of the matchups:
Playoff path A: Italy vs. Northern Ireland, Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina; winner of Wales-Bosnia hosts final.
Playoff path B: Ukraine vs. Sweden, Poland vs. Albania; winner of Ukraine-Sweden hosts final.
Playoff path C: Turkey vs. Romania, Slovakia vs. Kosovo; winner of Slovakia-Kosovo hosts final.
Playoff path D: Denmark vs. North Macedonia, Czechia vs. Republic of Ireland; winner of Czechia-Republic of Ireland hosts final.
In addition, two teams will advance to the World Cup from the interconfederation playoffs:
Playoff path A: New Caledonia vs. Jamaica, winner plays DR Congo
Playoff path B: Bolivia vs. Suriname, winner plays Iraq
- Share via
How does the World Cup draw work?
The draw is the procedure used to assign the qualifying World Cup nations into 12 groups of four teams each. That will determine who, when and where each country will play in the first round of the tournament.
To begin the draw, the teams are divided into four pots of 12 teams based on the FIFA world rankings published Nov. 19. Team will be randomly chosen — or drawn — from each pot and assigned to one of the World Cup groups, lettered A through L in alphabetical order. Teams from the same pot cannot be assigned to the same group nor can teams from the same FIFA confederation.
The one exception is teams from UEFA, the massive confederation overseeing European soccer. It will send 16 teams to the World Cup, meaning two UEFA teams will be paired in four different groups.
- Share via
2026 World Cup draw: How to watch, start time, teams and how it works
The largest and most complex World Cup in history will kick off in a little more than six months. The 48-team tournament, the first to be played in three countries, will open in Mexico on June 11 and in Canada and the U.S. a day later. The final will be held in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will host eight of the record 104 games, including two of the U.S. team’s three group-stage matches. Who the Americans will face in the opening round will be determined Friday morning when the tournament draw is held at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
How to watch the World Cup draw
Friday’s draw will be televised live on Fox beginning with a pre-draw show at 8:30 a.m. PST. The draw will then take place between 9 and 11 a.m., followed by an hour of analysis and interviews, ending at noon. In addition, Telemundo also will broadcast the draw.
