The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., buzzed with activity and speculation on Thursday in advance of Friday’s all-important draw for the 2026 men’s World Cup.

Next summer’s expanded tournament, to be played in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, will feature 48 teams, and their wildly different rankings, as well as the state of global politics, has made the assembly of the 12 opening groups feel like a delicate proposition.

Countries will be drawn from four pots, seeded by relative strength. As a co-host, Canada has a place in Pot 1 despite its being ranked 27 th in the world, meaning that it won’t face top powers like Argentina, France, England, or Spain in the group stage.

The Canadian men, who failed to earn a point in their previous two World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022, will stil

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