Who is doing the World Cup draw? Rio Ferdinand, Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Brady
Friday’s draw for next summer’s tournament will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with President Donald Trump expected to make an appearance.
The eyes of the soccer world will be trained on Washington DC on Friday for the much-anticipated World Cup 2026 draw.
So far the three host nations - United States, Mexico, Canada - and 39 other qualifiers have confirmed their spots in next summer’s tournament. The first round of the World Cup will see the 48 teams divided into four-team groups, which will be decided in Friday’s draw.
Those groups will be revealed at a glitzy draw at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington DC. FIFA has said that the event “will combine sport, entertainment and spectacle like never before,” with musical performances expected to form a part of the show.
The draw itself will be conducted by international broadcaster Samantha Johnson and Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United star and one of the most decorated defenders of his era.
They’ll be joined on stage by a lineup of U.S. sporting icons spanning the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal, four-time Stanley Cup winner Wayne Gretzky and seven-time MLB All-Star Aaron Judge are all scheduled to take part in the ceremony.
From the world of entertainment, Heidi Klum, Kevin Hart and Danny Ramirez will also be co-hosts. Musical performances will be provided by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger.
“To be hosting the final draw again, after having been involved in this show 20 years ago in my home country, is truly extraordinary,” said model Heidi Klum. “The World Cup brings the world together like nothing else, and being part of that magic again, on an even bigger stage involving three host countries and 48 teams, is an incredible honor.”
President Donald Trump is also expected to make an appearance, continuing his very public partnership with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The head of soccer’s world governing body was invited to Trump’s inauguration back in January and is reportedly set to award Trump with FIFA’s newly-introduced ‘Peace Prize’.
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