2026 World Cup draw live: Latest updates as Italy learn potential opponents

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Today’s World Cup draw is scheduled to kick-off at around 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

48 teams have been divided into four pots of 12 teams based primarily on FIFA’s World Rankings.

There are some expectations to the seeding, including the three host nations, who will be placed into Pot A, and the six nations who will qualify through the play-offs, who will be placed into Pot D. That could include Italy, who are in UEFA Play-off Path A, along with Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland.

The 12 groups at the final tournament will include one team from each pot in today’s draw.

The draw will begin with Pot 1.

Trump: “This is football, we have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff. Nobody has sold as many tickets, and you’re still a long way from that ball being kicked down the field.”

Trump: “For years, they’ve thought soccer would be so big so fast. I remember watching Pele play on a team called the Cosmos. Pele was fantastic, I assume one of the greats. He scored three goals, I said ‘that man can play’.”

Carney: “It’s the biggest of deals (to host the World Cup). It’s the number one sport for Canadian boys and girls. There’s more than 200 nationalities in Canada, more than 200 in FIFA, the top 48 in the World are coming, it’s going to be the biggest deal.”

Mark Carney, Claudia Scheinbaum and Donald Trump are brought onto the stage to conduct the draw.

Discussing his involvement in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup campaign, that free-kick against France in Le Tournoi, David Beckham and Carlo Ancelotti.

Lionel Scaloni brings the World Cup trophy on stage.

Infantino to Trump: “You definitely deserve the first FIFA peace prize for your action, for what you have obtained, in your way. But you obtained it in an incredible way and you can always count, Mr President on my support, and the support of the entire football community – or soccer community – to help you make peace and make the world prosper, all over the world.”

Trump: “This is truly one of the greatest honours of my life.

“There were so many different wars that we were able to end, in some cases a little bit before they started, just right before they started.

“You’re going to have an event the likes of which maybe the world has never seen.”

Infantino: “Like everyone here in the room, we see images of war all over the world. And like everyone, we suffer for every child that dies, we cry with every mother that loses someone she loves. And we want to see hope. We want to see unity, we want to see a future.”

Trump is awarded a trophy – bigger than the World Cup itself – as well as a medal and a certificate.

Called onto stage to receive his award by Infantino. This should be interesting.

President Trump is about to be presented with the recently-founded FIFA Peace Prize – Football United the World award. A bit of a mouthful.

And now for a performance from Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger.

Infantino encouraging the Americans in the crowd to chant ‘USA, USA, USA!’.

And then the same for Canada, and then for Mexico.

“This is like 104 superbowls in one month,” Infantino says, ‘translating’ for the American audience.

“This will be the greatest event that mankind has ever seen and will ever see,” says Infantino.

Infantino introduces President Trump and the the First Lady of the USA, along with the Presidents of Mexico and Canada.

“FIFA is the official happiness provider for humanity,” claims Infantino.

The FIFA President is on stage.

Danny Ramirez says that he is delighted to be joined by some of the world’s biggest football stars. He says hello to Roberto Carlos, ignores Kaka and then stops for a chat with Eli Manning.

This evening’s hosts, Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, are introduced.