With 1.23 million viewers tuned into FOX's broadcast of The Final Draw on Friday, it became the most-watched Final Draw in English-language TV history in the U.S.

The waiting is almost over, we are less than 24 hours away from the draw for the 2026 World Cup being made. 64 nations are involved, for a tournament that will involve 48 teams for the first time and it is being hosted across three North American countries.

The FIFA World Cup is only played once every four years, and it is arguably the most eagerly anticipated event in all of sports.

Team USA's group opponents and group-play schedule were officially announced Friday as part of the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 16 countries in the draw — there either via performance in regular World Cup qualifying or the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League — were divided into four qualification paths. Each path comprises two semi-finals and a final, meaning four teams will emerge with places at the tournament.

Could the U.S. have asked for a better result? Is France still the favorite in its group? These are the winners and losers from Friday's World Cup draw.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino will take nothing for granted but with none of those nations ranked in the top 20 by FIFA it would be a major disappointment if his team failed to advance as one of the top two in Group D or via the safety net as a best-performing third-place qualifier.

The 2026 World Cup draw is official. And here in Arlington, Virginia at Ireland’s Four Courts pub, soccer fans felt every moment.