We’ll know which World Cup teams are coming to Kansas City in December
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- FIFA will hold the 2026 World Cup group draw on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center.
- Kansas City will learn its four group stage matchups following the draw event.
- GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium will host six matches, including a quarterfinal.
President Donald Trump announced Friday the draw for the 2026 World Cup will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 5 in Washington D.C.
With FIFA president Gianni Infantino by his side in the Oval Office, Trump said the draw to determine the groups for next summer’s World Cup will take place at the Kennedy Center.
Kansas City will be host to four group-stage matches, so we’ll know who is playing in those games after the draw is complete.
FIFA said the “team officials, ambassadors, fans representing the tournament’s Host Cities and global media representatives” will be on hand for the draw.
That includes officials from Kansas City, which will play host to six matches during next year’s World Cup. The tournament will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“We are excited to host the most anticipated Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup in history in the cultural and entertainment heart of the United States, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.,” Infantino said in a news release. “The draw is a major tournament milestone and one that will continue the remarkable build-up to the biggest sporting event ever, as we get set for many landmark FIFA events across North America throughout 2026.”
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, New Zealand and Uzbekistan have qualified for the tournament. The United States, Canada and Mexico will take part as well.
World Cup qualifying for European teams begins in September. But FIFA said 42 of the 48 teams that will compete in the 2026 World Cup will have qualified by Dec. 5. The final six spots will be determined by playoff matches in March.
That will include a new playoff tournament that will be held in the United States as six nations will compete for two spots. Details of that event have not been announced.
Kansas City’s World Cup matches
These are the dates of the matches that will be played at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium:
Group play: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Group play: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Group play: Thursday, June 25, 2026
Group play: Saturday, June 27, 2026
Round of 32: Friday, July 3, 2026
Quarterfinal: Saturday, July 11, 2026
