FIFA 2026 World Cup Draw to Take Place in Las Vegas This December

Las Vegas is poised to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, with reports suggesting the ceremony will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025. While FIFA has not yet officially confirmed the date or location, multiple sources indicate that the event will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. The city has been selected over options in co-host nations Canada and Mexico to serve as the site for this important pre-tournament event.

This edition of the FIFA World Cup is historic in several ways. It will be the first time the tournament is hosted across three countries—United States, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, the format of the tournament has been expanded to include 48 participating nations, a significant increase from the traditional 32 teams. This expansion marks a new chapter in the tournament’s structure, aiming to offer greater global representation.

Although Las Vegas has been chosen to host the draw, its Allegiant Stadium was not selected as a match venue for the tournament. Instead, eleven cities across the United States have been confirmed to host matches: New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Miami, Atlanta (eastern region), Kansas City, Dallas, Houston (central region), and Los Angeles, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay Area (western region). In addition to the U.S. cities, three Mexican cities—Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey—and two Canadian cities—Toronto and Vancouver—have also been selected as host venues.

The 2026 World Cup draw will determine the composition of 12 groups, with each group containing four nations. Three countries—Mexico, Canada, and the United States—have already been placed in Groups A, B, and D respectively. This allocation was made in advance as they are the host nations.

The final match of the tournament is scheduled to be held at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19, 2026. This iconic venue will serve as the closing stage for what is expected to be the most expansive and widely attended FIFA World Cup in history.

Interestingly, Las Vegas has a history with FIFA World Cup draws, having hosted the draw back in 1994—the last time the tournament was held in the United States. However, in both 1994 and now in 2026, the city has not been selected as a venue for actual matches.

For the 2026 draw, the leading candidate venue within Las Vegas is the modern Sphere arena, which opened in 2023. The high-tech venue boasts a seating capacity of over 17,000 and is considered an ideal location for hosting high-profile global events.

The qualification process for the 2026 tournament is ongoing and is expected to be completed by March 2026, following an intercontinental playoff round. Once qualification concludes, the full lineup of teams for the draw will be finalized.

In summary, Las Vegas will play a central role in launching the 2026 FIFA World Cup through its hosting of the tournament draw, marking a symbolic and strategic moment in a globally anticipated event that spans three nations and introduces a new era for international football.