Media accreditation application window for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26™ now open

The Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26™ is set to take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on Friday 5 December 2025. The draw will commence at 12:00 (noon) local time (18:00 CET).

As part of the official media programme, media representatives are invited to attend the FIFA World Cup 26™ Media Operations Briefing, which is to be held at the REACH at the Kennedy Center at 15:00 on Thursday,4 December.

This briefing will provide important information regarding media operations and services, including the media accreditation procedures for the tournament. If you plan to attend the event, please register when completing your accreditation application.

A FIFA media accreditation pass will grant the holder access to the media centre located at the REACH on the day of the draw. However, access to other media areas will be limited due to capacity constraints and will require the media representative to have a valid, dedicated media ticket. Please note that in the draw hall, only designated photo positions will be available for request. A live broadcast of the draw will be provided in the media centre to enable all accredited journalists to follow proceedings.

The deadline to apply for accreditation is 5 November. All applicants must have a valid FIFA Media Hub account to complete the accreditation application process. Media representatives who do not have an approved FIFA Media Hub account can register at the following link: media.FIFA.com/registration.

The media ticketing process will be launched closer to the event and will be managed via the FIFA Media Hub and the FIFA Media App.

All accreditation applications are subject to confirmation. Successful applicants will be notified via email and provided with further information in due course.

Accommodation for media representatives

A special rate is available for accredited media at the Washington Marriott Georgetown hotel (USD 231 per night for a standard room, including taxes). The offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis and will remain available until all allocated rooms are booked or the booking deadline (5 November) is reached, whichever comes first. Cancellations can be made without incurring a charge until one day prior to the scheduled check-in date.

Media representatives wishing to take advantage of this offer must submit their booking requests.

Transport 

A shuttle service will be provided from the Washington Marriott Georgetown to the media centre at the REACH on 4 and 5 December. Further details, including a media shuttle schedule, will be distributed closer to the event and made available on the FIFA Media Hub and the FIFA Media App.

Visa information

Please be advised that international applicants are responsible for obtaining their own visas. The U.S. consular offices/embassies do not require media representatives to provide the final draw accreditation approval letter with their visa application. An explanation of the visa application process is available below.

The FIFA Media App

Media representatives are encouraged to download the FIFA Media App (available on iOS and Android) to receive official communications – including media advisories, scheduling updates, accreditation notices and venue guidance. Please enable push notifications to ensure the timely receipt of any changes and deadlines.

For queries relating to media operations and services at the final draw, please contact the FIFA Event Media Operations & Services team via the FIFA Media Hub contact form.

Questions from non-rights-holding TV and radio broadcasters should be sent to nrh@fifa.org.

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