When is the World Cup 2026 draw? Date, start time, how to watch and who has qualified | OneFootball

England become first European team to seal qualification for next summer’s finals in United States, Canada and Mexico

England have qualified for the 2026 World Cup with a thumping 5-0 win over Latvia.

Thomas Tuchel’s side needed just one more victory to wrap up top spot in Group K and seal their place at the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer with two games to spare.

England have not missed a major tournament since 2008 and, along with the likes of Argentina, France and Spain, will be among the favourites to lift the trophy next summer at their eighth consecutive World Cup.

Here’s everything you need to know about the World Cup draw…

When is the World Cup draw?

The draw for the expanded 2026 World Cup - the first to feature 48 teams - will take place in the US capital of Washington, D.C. on Friday, December 5. It will begin at 5pm GMT at the Kennedy Center.

How to watch the World Cup draw

Live stream: The draw will be broadcast live and for free on FIFA’s official YouTube channel.

Live blog: You can follow all the updates with Standard Sport’s live blog on the day.

Who has qualified for the World Cup?

The USA, Canada, and Mexico all automatically qualify for the World Cup as hosts. Mexico play the opening game of the tournament in Mexico City, and will be placed in Group A. Canada then open their campaign in Toronto and will be in Group B, while the USA are in Group D.

From Asia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Australia have all booked their places, while Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their World Cup debuts.

Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay are the automatic South American qualifiers, while Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia have qualified from Africa.

England are the first European team to qualify.

Who could qualify next?

In Europe there are 12 groups, with the winners of each qualifying automatically for the World Cup and the 12 runners-up going into play-offs with the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners that have not already qualified. Four extra spots are on offer.

Portugal, Switzerland and France will look to seal their places, while Croatia and Norway are all but there because of their superior goal difference.

Spain, the Netherlands and Austria are all also closing in on automatic qualification.

In Africa, Gabon, the DR Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria were the four best group runners-up and will now enter a play-off to determine who will be CAF’s sole representative at the wider inter-confederation play-offs, coming up in March.

Bolivia are into those latter play-offs as the seventh-placed finishers in South America, along with Oceania’s New Caledonia.