The global football community is turning its eyes to Washington DC as the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in the United States capital on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The trophy's tour of the city's landmarks set the stage for the much-anticipated final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for Friday, December 5.
A Star-Studded Draw Ceremony
The footballing world's ultimate prize was displayed at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. Here, FIFA Legend and former England captain Rio Ferdinand joined FIFA officials to give media a first look at the draw hall. Ferdinand expressed immense pride and excitement about his central role in the proceedings.
He is set to conduct the historic draw for the expanded 48-team tournament alongside acclaimed broadcaster Samantha Johnson. The event promises a unique blend of sporting greatness, with an impressive lineup of draw assistants from other sports: Tom Brady (American football), Wayne Gretzky (ice hockey), Aaron Judge (baseball), and Shaquille O'Neal (basketball). Former NFL star Eli Manning will add further glamour as the red carpet host.
Unusual Delays and Iranian Visa Controversy
While FIFA has hailed the draw as a "thrilling milestone," the path forward has notable complications. For the first time, the full match schedule—including venues and kick-off times for all 104 games—will not be released concurrently with the draw. Teams must wait until Saturday, December 6, for these crucial details, delaying their logistical planning by at least a day.
Adding political tension to the sporting event is a visa dispute involving Iran. The Iranian delegation had threatened to boycott the draw after the United States granted only four of the nine visas requested. Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's football federation (FFIRI), was among those denied. Despite earlier statements that Iran would not attend unless all visas were issued, coach Amir Ghalenoi and official Omid Jamali have travelled to Washington and may be joined by others.
This issue stems from longstanding U.S. visa restrictions on Iranian nationals for political and security reasons. Although a U.S. executive order from June 2025 bans entry from several countries, including Iran, it is supposed to exempt athletes and staff for events like the World Cup.
Complex Draw Procedures for a New Format
The draw itself introduces new complexities for the 2026 edition, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA aims to keep the top four ranked teams apart until the semi-finals. The governing body outlined a detailed process where, for Pots 2, 3, and 4, each team's group position will follow a predefined allocation pattern based on the pot they are drawn from and their assigned group.
Pot 1 has already been allocated to the 12 teams. The draw will finally reveal the initial group-stage paths for nations like Iran, who have qualified for their seventh World Cup and fourth in a row.
