Washington: The draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to take place tomorrow at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, with Qatar among the participating teams. The tournament, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled from June 11 to July 19 and will feature 48 countries divided into 12 groups of four teams each.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar secured its place in the World Cup 2026 by finishing first in Group A during the Asian qualifiers, ahead of Oman and the UAE. This marks Qatar’s second consecutive World Cup appearance, with the previous participation as the host nation in 2022.
FIFA has organized the teams into four levels based on the latest rankings. Qatar finds itself in the third level alongside Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, and others, ensuring they will not be in the same group as these teams. The first level includes the host countries, while the second level features teams such as Croatia, Morocco, and Japan. The fourth level consists of teams like Jordan, Ghana, and New Zealand, alongside those qualifying through playoffs.
The draw ceremony will see the attendance of coaches, national federation officials, and representatives of teams still vying for qualification spots. The 2026 World Cup promises a significant Arab presence, with seven Arab teams, including Qatar, already qualified. Iraq could join them if successful in the play-offs, potentially making it a historic event for Arab football.
FIFA’s draw procedure involves placing teams from each pot into separate containers, with hosts in Pot 1. The draw aims to ensure a balanced distribution of teams, with specific restrictions to avoid early clashes between top-ranked teams like Spain and Argentina.
FIFA will uphold the principle of no more than one team from the same confederation in each group, except for UEFA, which allows for two European teams per group due to its larger representation. The specifics of the group stage matches will be announced by FIFA on December 6, ensuring optimal conditions for teams and fans worldwide.