Report: Las Vegas to host World Cup draw Dec. 5

Las Vegas will host the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Dec. 5, sources told ESPN.

The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The expanded tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time.

Vegas, despite not being a host city for matches next summer, was selected for the draw after venues in both Canada and Mexico were ruled out, according to ESPN sources.

The draw will divide the 48 participating nations into 12 groups of four.

Pedro Cedillo, an executive at Mexican club Pachuca, told ESPN that he expects Las Vegas to put on the ceremony later this year.

"Dec. 5, if I'm not mistaken, is precisely the day the draw takes place, or at the beginning of December," he said. "I understand it will be in Las Vegas, and that's where we need to be present to provide information about the city of Pachuca, the state of Hidalgo, and the two venues we have."

ESPN originally reported that Sphere, the state-of-the-art entertainment arena that opened in 2023, was considered the front-runner to stage the draw. But sources close to Sphere later confirmed that the venue will not host the event.

When the United States hosted the 1994 World Cup, the draw took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. That venue is already booked this time around, with multiple events scheduled.

The 2026 World Cup kicks off June 11.