Host Cities Await News on 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw

As anticipation started to build with the one-year countdown in June and continuing this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, there is something that nobody has been able to do just yet — promote the teams that will be playing in group stage matches, because the draw has not been made.

That has left most North American host cities in limbo to promote their games because they don’t know which teams will come, with the exception of Los Angeles and Seattle, which know they will host group stage games for the United States, plus Mexico and Canada’s national team game sites.

“I cannot wait for the draw,” said Zaileen Janmohamed, Bay Area Host Committee president and CEO. “I can’t wait because I’m a soccer fan, so I want to know (and) my kids are asking me every day, ‘Who’s playing here, mom?’”

While the draw is widely expected to be held in Las Vegas — SportsTravel reported the city was a leading candidate to host this spring — no final decision has been made. Industry sources say those in Vegas are waiting for further details from FIFA. Host cities, meanwhile, have had full international marketing campaigns ready to go for months but still don’t know what languages they have to be translated to before they are sent.

“I think anybody’s going to be impatient when they’re interested to see who they’re welcoming from around the world, right?” said Katie Kirkpatrick, president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We’d all like it to be tomorrow. But we’re very comfortable that December will bring us an incredible suite of teams to Atlanta.”

The draw will allow cities to increase their operational procedures to promote themselves to potential incoming fan bases but also finalize plans for security, airport planning, activation events and more.

“If I get a Brazil, if I get an Argentina, if I get an England, if I get a Japan, that changes the dynamic on how we plan from an operational perspective,” Janmohamed said. “And then how I plan from a community engagement perspective? The Bay Area is actually super diverse. So depending on the team that’s coming in, I can actually have a specific activation or a watch party in a market where it’s very relevant.”

But until then, the cities continue to wait.

“Once we get the draw and a better sense of who’s coming, that allows us to activate certain communities, allows us to go talk to potential partners abroad, allows us to really start advertising abroad,” said Alex Lasry, New York/New Jersey Host Committee CEO. “Would it make things easier if it was earlier? Sure, but we know the process. We know when it is. We’re fully ready to plan and execute the second we learn who’s playing here.”