The stage is almost set for the biggest spectacle in soccer.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw is being held Friday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to map out the groups for an unprecedented tournament.

Next summer’s event will be the first ever 48-team World Cup, with those nations being broken up into 12 groups of four. From there, 104 matches will be played at 16 venues across the U.S., Canada and Mexico to determine a World Cup champion.

Forty-two teams have already qualified for the tournament, with the final six spots to be decided by UEFA and interconfederation playoffs in March.

_FOLLOW ALONG FOR LIVE UPDATES OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP DRAW._

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP GROUPS

Groups will be announced on Friday, Dec. 5, with the official draw starting at 12 p.m. ET.

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