The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins this Friday as the tournament’s final draw takes over the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. — and the event is shaping up to be as glamorous as it is global.
Supermodel and TV personality Heidi Klum will return to the World Cup stage nearly 20 years after hosting the 2006 draw in Germany, this time joined by comedian and Hollywood star Kevin Hart. The high-profile ceremony will also feature musical performances from Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and legendary disco group Village People, who will perform their iconic hit “YMCA.”
The draw — which begins at 9 a.m. local time / 12 p.m. ET (5 p.m. GMT) on Friday, Dec. 5 — will determine the group-stage matchups for the expanded 48-team tournament taking place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer. FIFA President Gianni Infantino will attend the ceremony, as millions of fans around the world tune in.
Klum called it “an incredible honor” to return as host.
“To be hosting the final draw again, after being involved 20 years ago in my home country, is truly extraordinary,” she said. “The World Cup brings the world together like nothing else, and being part of that magic again — with three host nations and 48 teams — is amazing.”
Actor and producer Danny Ramirez will also appear at the event, interviewing football icons. Ramirez, who grew up playing the sport, said the role is “a dream,” adding that the tournament’s presence in both the U.S. and Mexico feels “especially meaningful.”
Music fans have plenty to look forward to as well. Scherzinger — the Grammy-nominated former Pussycat Dolls frontwoman and Tony Award winner — headlines the night’s lineup, joined by British superstar Robbie Williams and operatic legend Andrea Bocelli. After the draw concludes, Village People will take the stage for a celebratory performance of “YMCA.”
The 48 qualifying nations will be placed into four pots, based on FIFA rankings. Pot 1 includes the three host countries — the U.S., Canada, and Mexico — along with the top nine ranked teams globally. Six qualification spots remain open and will be decided via playoffs in March; those teams have been pre-assigned to Pot 4.
A key new rule for 2026: top-ranked teams Spain, Argentina, France, and England cannot face each other until the semi-finals.
Fans worldwide can stream the draw live on FIFA.com, FIFA’s YouTube channel, and designated broadcast partners.
In the U.K., coverage airs on BBC and BBC iPlayer.
In the U.S., viewers can tune in via Fox and Fubo.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup — the biggest in the tournament’s history — will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
ALSO READ: JoJo Siwa Shares Health Update After Hospital Emergency Caused by Ruptured Ovarian Cyst
