Follow the World Cup draw with live updates and find out who the USMNT and soccer's best will be facing during the 2026 tournament.
The expanded 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history featuring 48 countries – up from 32 – battling for soccer's ultimate prize in North America.
There are 12 groups of four teams, with each playing the others once in a round-robin. Three points are awarded for a win and one for a draw, with the top two teams advancing directly to the knockout stage. In the World Cup's new format, eight of the 12 group third-place winners also move on to the Round of 32.
The field is then whittled down again for the Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals – with the World Cup final set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Here's the path to the World Cup final in 2026:
