2026 FIFA World Cup Simulator

The Four Pots

To ensure a balanced draw, the 48 qualified teams are divided into four pots of 12 teams each. The pots are determined by the FIFA World Rankings. The highest-ranked teams, including the hosts, are placed in Pot 1, the next highest in Pot 2, and so on.

The Draw Process

The draw process is as follows:

1. One team is drawn from each of the four pots to form a group.
2. This process is repeated until all 12 groups of four teams are formed.

Constraints and Rules

To ensure geographic diversity, there are a few constraints:

• No group can have more than one team from the same confederation, with the exception of Europe (UEFA).
• Each group can have a maximum of two teams from UEFA.

For the 2026 tournament, the three host nations are guaranteed to be in Pot 1 and have been pre-assigned to specific groups to ensure they play their group stage matches in their home countries. Mexico is pre-assigned to Group A. Canada is pre-assigned to Group B. The USA is pre-assigned to Group D.

Group Stage

The group stage features a round-robin format, where each team plays against the other three teams in their group once.

Point System

• Win: 3 points
• Draw: 1 point
• Loss: 0 points

Advancement

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will automatically advance to the knockout stage. In addition, the 8 best-performing 3rd place teams will also qualify for the knockout stage.

Tiebreaker Rules

In the round-robin and tournament formats, the tiebreaker criteria are as follows:

1. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches (3 for a win, 1 for a draw, 0 for a loss)
2. Greatest goal differential in all group matches
3. Most goals scored in all group matches

Should two or more teams still have equal rank after criteria 1–3 are applied, then the following criteria are used:

4. Greatest number of points obtained in all matches amongst the concerned teams
5. Greatest goal differential in all matches amongst the concerned teams
6. Most goals scored in all matches amongst the concerned teams
7. Most goals scored away from home in all matches amongst the concerned teams
8. The best team conduct score using the following table:
   • First yellow card: –1 point
   • Second yellow card/indirect red card: –3 points
   • Direct red card: –4 points
   • Yellow card and direct red card: –5 points

   Only one score will be applied to any player or team official in any match, e.g. a player who receives a second yellow card will only have –3 points applied and not –4 (–1 for the first and –3 for the second).

9. Drawing of lots by FIFA

Knockout Stage

The knockout stage is a single-elimination bracket, where each match is a one-off game. If a match is tied after 90 minutes, it will go to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

Can I sell my match tickets if I can't attend?

Yes. FIFA has launched the official resale platform. You can list your tickets for sale at the official site: https://fwc26-resale-usd.tickets.fifa.com. Do not use unofficial sellers, as you risk being denied entry.

Do I have to buy tickets if I win a time slot in the Visa ticket draw phase?

No. Applicants win a time slot to purchase tickets. You are not required to buy—if there are no matches you're interested in during your slot, you can choose not to purchase. Learn more in our Blind Lottery Guide and Sales Phases explainer.

When is the official FIFA World Cup 2026 draw?

The official FIFA World Cup 2026 draw is scheduled for December 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center.

How are the teams divided into pots?

The 48 qualified teams are divided into four pots of 12 based on the FIFA World Rankings. The highest-ranked teams are in Pot 1, the next highest in Pot 2, and so on. However, teams that play the qualification phase, such as potentially strong teams like Italy or Germany, will be placed in Pot 4 regardless of their FIFA World Ranking. This ensures a balanced draw. See the full list of teams and their pots on our Team Pots page.

Can European teams be in the same group?

Yes, a group can have a maximum of two European (UEFA) teams. For all other confederations, a maximum of one team per group is allowed.

Are any teams pre-assigned to groups before the draw?

Yes. The three host nations are pre-assigned to ensure they play group stage matches at home. Mexico is in Group A, Canada is in Group B, and the USA is in Group D.

When does the tournament start and end?

The first match is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, 2026 , and the Final will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

How many teams advance from the group stage?

A total of 32 teams advance. This includes the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best 3rd-place teams.

How can I buy tickets for the World Cup 2026?

FIFA has announced four official ticket sale phases. Phase 1 (VISA Presale Lottery) runs from September 10-19, 2025. Phase 2 (General Lottery) is from October 27-31, 2025. Phase 3 (Post-Draw Lottery) begins in December 2025 after the final draw. Phase 4 (First-Come, First-Served) will be in Spring 2026. All tickets are sold exclusively through the official FIFA website: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets. For a complete guide, see our post on the World Cup 2026 Ticket Sales Phases.

How can I buy tickets for a specific team?

To guarantee you see a specific team, you can purchase a Team-Specific Ticket (TST) package during the "blind" lottery phase. Alternatively, you can wait for the second ticket sales phase, which will happen after the group draw in December 2025, to buy individual tickets for specific matches. For more details on the process and strategy, check out our Your Ultimate Guide to Securing FIFA World Cup 2026 Tickets.

How many tickets can one person buy?

Each household can buy tickets for up to 10 matches, with a maximum of 4 tickets per match. A household is defined by a shared postal address. If multiple applications are made from the same address, the total number of tickets across all applications cannot exceed the 4-ticket-per-match limit.

Where can I buy World Cup tickets?

All World Cup tickets are sold exclusively through the official FIFA website: https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/tickets. You can participate in the four ticket sales phases. For a detailed explanation of each phase, see our blog post on the World Cup 2026 Ticket Sales Phases Explained.

What is the price for a World Cup game ticket?

Ticket prices vary by match stage, venue, and category. Here is a general price range (in USD) for a single ticket:

• Group Stage: $60 - $2,735
• Round of 32: $105 - $685
• Round of 16: $155 - $890
• Quarter-finals: $275 - $1,690
• Semi-finals: $420 - $2,780
• 3rd Place Match: $175 - $1,000
• Final: $1,250 - $6,730

Prices are subject to change based on demand. For a detailed breakdown, see our blog post on World Cup 2026 Ticket Prices Revealed.

How can I buy tickets for a specific team like Argentina or Portugal?

In the first two phases of the ticket lottery, the only option is to buy a Team-Specific Ticket (TST) package. This is because the World Cup group draw hasn't been decided yet. The TST package will include three group stage games for the team you select. For more details, see our blog post on the World Cup 2026 Ticket Sales Phases Explained.

Where can I find stadium seat maps and ticket category information?

We have a detailed guide with city-by-city stadium maps that explains the ticket categories. You can find it here: World Cup 2026 Stadium Seat Maps: Ticket Categories Explained.