Up next
Author
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
Australia’s Socceroos will soon learn who their FIFA World Cup 2026 opening stage opponents are, with the unveiling of the tournament’s draw.
The World Cup draw will be attended by United States President Donald Trump, who has been rumoured as a possible winner of FIFA’s inaugural peace prize, which will also be awarded at the event.
Draw proceedings kick off at Washington’s John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at midday local time on Friday 5 December, which means early morning Saturday for Australians (more details on that below).
The draw will divide the 48 teams — three host teams, 39 qualified teams, two FIFA World Cup 2026 play-off tournament placeholders and four European play-off placeholders — into 12 groups comprising four teams each.

In a significant change from previous tournaments, the World Cup will now feature 48 teams, expanding the competition from its former 32-team format.

The Socceroos met France and Denmark at both the 2022 and 2018 group stages. The only other nations the Australian side has encountered twice at the cup finals are Chile and Germany.
Given their placement in Pot 2 — a system by which more closely ranked teams are grouped — the Socceroos won’t face two-time champions Uruguay, 2018 finalists Croatia, Colombia, Switzerland or Austria in the opening round.
Teams in the same pot cannot compete against each other in this stage, meaning the Socceroos will also avoid early match-ups with Asian regional confederation rivals Japan, South Korea and Iran.
However, they could face highly-ranked teams such as England, Argentina, Spain, Norway, or Italy, who are yet to qualify but could be a late entry to Pot 4.

This vast event will take place across three nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—hosting an impressive total of 104 matches in various stadiums.

A group of football players wearing green and yellow uniforms pose for a photo in a stadium

Australia’s national team, the Socceroos, saw their journey end in the round of 16 during the 2022 World Cup.

The draw will be an entertainment-filled affair, with supermodel and TV star Heidi Klum, comedian Kevin Hart, and actor Danny Ramirez taking center stage.

The iconic disco group, the Village People, will perform their classic hit “YMCA,” famously associated with one of Donald Trump’s campaign events.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino will also be announcing the winner of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the draw, which the organisation has said will go to someone who has “taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace”.
There are broad speculations the prize will be awarded to Trump, who is known to have a close relationship with Infantino.
Infantino attended Trump’s inauguration in January and has previously said the US leader deserved global recognition for his role in brokering a ceasefire in the Middle East.

The FIFA boss also rubbed shoulders with world leaders at a Gaza peace summit in mid-October, reportedly at the invitation of Trump.
Some have questioned FIFA’s involvement in politics, with Human Rights Watch sending a letter requesting information on the criteria and process for selecting the winner.
The announcement of the peace prize in early November prompted questions as to whether Trump would be the first recipient of the award.

Asked at the America Business Forum in Miami recently, which Trump also attended, Infantino replied: “On the 5th of December you will see.” He also said he had “a great relationship” with Trump.

What are the FIFA pots?

There are four pots in the draw, with all pots seeded with teams from the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.
Pot 1 includes the top nine teams, alongside the hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

Pot 2 has the next 12 highest-ranked teams: Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, and Australia.
A gold FIFA World Cup trophy encased in a glass box.

The World Cup 2026 final will be held at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on 19 July. Source: Getty / Cristopher Rogel Blanquet

Pot 3 is followed by the next 12: Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

Pot 4 includes six teams — Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, and New Zealand — and six placeholders scheduled to play in March 2026 during the international match window.

How does the draw work?
As the teams are drawn, they will go into groups from A to L.
The teams in Pot 1 will go into the first positions in each group, with host country positions already established. Mexico for A1, Canada B1 and USA D1.

Those in pots 2, 3 and 4 will be drawn randomly into other positions in their respective groups.

For the first time, the four highest-seeded countries will not face each other until the semifinals, assuming all four win in their groups. According to FIFA, this is to ensure a balanced distribution of teams.
Two countries from the same confederation — Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America and the Caribbean, South America and Oceania — cannot be drawn together.

Europe has an exemption because it has 16 countries competing in the World Cup, making it impossible to prevent a clash.

Where can I watch the World Cup draw in Australia?

Australians will have to rise early on Saturday 6 December to watch the World Cup draw live, which will be streaming live and free on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand at the following times:

  • 4am AEDT (Victoria, Tasmania and most of NSW)
  • 3.30am South Australia
  • 3am Queensland
  • 2:30am Northern Territory
  • 1am Western Australia
People standing outside clapping and cheering.

Socceroo fans at Federation Square in Melbourne watch Australia play Denmark at the FIFA World Cup 2022. Source: AAP / Con Chronis

On Sunday, for Australians, the matchups to venues and kick-off times will be released following the post-draw allocation process.

This ensures fans worldwide can watch their teams play live across different time zones.
Watch the draw, and all 104 games of the FIFA World Cup 26™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
You May Also Like
Epstein Island

Exclusive: Never-Before-Seen Images of Jeffrey Epstein’s Mysterious Private Island Uncovered

Warning: This article contains potentially distressing content for some readers. Pictures of…
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Reality television star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian attends a roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on April 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. The meeting included four of the sixteen people who had been convicted of non-violent drug offenses in the past and received clemency from President Joe Biden earlier this week. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Medical Experts Warn: Be Wary of Health Advice from Social Media Influencers

Specialists are urging tighter control over the dissemination of possibly misleading medical…
Cancer Council kids sunscreen recalled after causing 'inadequate' protection

Children’s Sunscreen Recalled for Falling Short on Protection Standards

The Cancer Council has issued a recall for its clear zinc kids…
'Nothing is the same': Family grieve for teen killed at Sydney show

Heartbreak at Sydney Show: Family Mourns Teen’s Tragic Loss

The family of a young father-to-be, who tragically lost his life at…
UK sanctions Russian spies over 2018 nerve agent attack

UK Targets Russian Spies with Sanctions for Role in 2018 Nerve Agent Incident

The United Kingdom has taken decisive action against Russia’s GRU military intelligence…
A struggling NSW town is devastated that its Christmas tree was destroyed by arsonists less than a fortnight away from the holiday.

Heartbreak in Rural Community: Arsonists Torch Beloved Christmas Tree, Town Mourns Loss

A small town in rural New South Wales is grappling with heartbreak…
Lauren Tesolin-Mastrosa.

Controversial ‘Daddy Dom’ Book by Sydney Author Under Investigation for Alleged Child Abuse Content

A controversial book penned by a marketing executive from a Christian charity…
FBI makes arrest over pipe bombs placed in DC on eve of January 6 riot

FBI Arrests Suspect Linked to Pipe Bombs Found in DC Before January 6th Unrest

The FBI has taken a significant step forward in its nearly five-year…

Australians’ Evolving Expectations: The Decline in Rental Property Conditions

As temperatures rise, so do many Australians’ energy bills. The high cost…
Victorian father Les Crampton dies in house fire

Tragic House Fire Claims Lives of Beloved Father and Family Dog

A father-of-two and his pet dog have been killed in a devastating…
The locket has an 18-karat gold octopus inside. A New Zealand man has been charged with theft for allegedly swallowing it in Auckland.

New Zealand Man Faces Charges After Bizarre Incident: Allegedly Swallows Priceless Fabergé Egg

In a bizarre twist of events, authorities in New Zealand have filed…
Car theft charges against Bruce Lehrmann have been downgraded.

Bruce Lehrmann Faces Reduced Charges in Tasmanian Vehicle Incident

Car theft charges have been downgraded in a case against Bruce Lehrmann,…