As excitement builds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, fans around the world are tuning in today to find out how the tournament’s group stage will take shape, and one of the biggest questions circulating online is where to watch the World Cup draw. The draw ceremony, held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., began at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, following days of speculation over the FIFA World Cup draw time and the final format for this expanded 48-team tournament. For millions of fans, the first step in the journey toward World Cup 2026 begins with understanding what time is the World Cup draw 2026 and how to watch the event live from home.
U.S. audiences can watch the draw on FOX, which holds the English-language broadcast rights for the tournament. Coverage began with a preshow at 11:30 a.m. ET on the FOX network, the FOX Sports App, and Fox Deportes for bilingual viewers. Those wondering where to watch the World Cup draw in Spanish will find live coverage through Telemundo and Universo, both offering comprehensive analysis before and after the main event. For fans searching online for where can I watch the World Cup draw outside traditional cable options, live streaming is available through FIFA’s official website, the FIFA+ app, and the FIFA YouTube channel. These platforms have become essential for international viewers and cord-cutters looking for how to watch the World Cup draw without paying for a TV subscription.
The ceremony determines the group placements for 42 qualified national teams, with six remaining spots reserved for intercontinental playoff winners to be decided in early 2026. The FIFA draw 2026 carries unusual significance this year because of the expanded format and the unprecedented hosting partnership among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As fans repeatedly ask online when is World Cup draw or what time is World Cup draw across different time zones, the increased global participation reflects the scale of anticipation for the 2026 tournament. With matches spread across 16 cities and three countries, the path each team faces will become much clearer after today’s reveal of groups, seedings, and potential knockout matchups.
Locally, World Cup host cities have embraced the moment. In Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami, soccer committees and fan organizations have arranged public viewing events beginning hours before the draw. The Houston World Cup Host Committee, for example, welcomed fans to early-morning gatherings featuring live music, guest appearances, and screenings of past tournaments before the broadcast began. These events, driven by community excitement more than necessity, are designed to help new fans understand the process behind the FIFA draw and how the group stage shapes rivalries that often last decades.
The draw itself includes familiar traditions: the introduction of team representatives, the rotating selection pots based on FIFA rankings, and the suspenseful reveal of matchups that could produce a so-called “group of death.” With heavyweights like Brazil, France, Argentina, Germany, and the United States all awaiting their positions, analysts have been debating which early matchups could generate global attention. For the U.S. Men’s National Team, which benefits from home-field advantage throughout the tournament, the 2026 World Cup draw is considered a crucial moment that may define expectations for what many believe could be a breakout performance for the young American squad.
FIFA has emphasized visibility and transparency for this year’s draw, and the organization’s streaming platforms have already seen record engagement. Many fans, especially younger viewers, now rely on digital platforms rather than television networks to keep up with major football events. That shift has contributed to a surge in Google searches this week for phrases such as where to watch the World Cup draw, how to watch World Cup draw, where to watch the World Cup draw live, and what time is the World Cup draw 2026. U.S. searches spiked particularly around the morning hours as fans prepared to tune in.
With the draw now underway and the final group placements emerging, the global football community enters the next phase of anticipation. Whether watching from home, streaming online, or attending public watch parties, fans everywhere now have their first real glimpse into the storylines that will define the 2026 World Cup. The journey to next summer’s tournament officially begins with today’s draw, shaping rivalries, inspiring predictions, and igniting the countdown toward one of the most watched sporting events in the world.
