With fewer than 200 days to the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup, FIFA has officially confirmed the procedures for the Final Draw — a major milestone before the tournament kicks off in June 2026.
The draw will be held on Friday, 5 December 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, where all qualified teams — and those still fighting through play-offs — will discover their group-stage opponents.
Ghana in Pot 4
The Black Stars will enter the draw from Pot 4, which contains lower-ranked qualified nations as well as placeholders for play-off winners. Ghana is grouped with Jordan, Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, four European Play-Off winners and two winners from the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament.
This means Ghana will almost certainly face at least one global powerhouse from Pot 1 and another strong side from Pots 2 or 3.
Pot allocations
Pot 1 (hosts + top seeds):
Canada, Mexico, USA, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2:
Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, IR Iran, Korea Republic, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3:
Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4:
Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand, UEFA Play-Off A/B/C/D, FIFA Play-Off 1 & 2
How the draw will work
-
All Pot 1 teams will be drawn first into Groups A to L.
-
Hosts will be placed in specific slots: Mexico (A1), Canada (B1) and USA (D1).
-
FIFA’s ranking will determine pathways to ensure top-ranked teams like Spain, Argentina, France, and England cannot meet before the final if they win their groups.
-
Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn into the same group, except UEFA, which may have up to two teams per group.
Updated match schedule coming 6 December
While the draw will determine matchups, FIFA will release stadium assignments and kick-off times a day later, on 6 December.
