Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, Wayne Gretzky to join Rio Ferdinand for 2026 World Cup draw

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 4 Dec 2025 04:21 CST
• 5 min read

Nieuws

The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place on Friday and it will be a star-studded affair, with several sporting 'GOATs' set to be in attendance.

The overall ceremony will be presented by retired footballer Rio Ferdinand alongside award-winning broadcaster Samantha Johnson.

The red carpet host is NFL legend Eli Manning.

There will be sporting greats assisting with the draw itself, with Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, Wayne Gretzky and Aaron Judge all representing popular American sports - Football, Basketball, Hockey and Baseball.

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“To conduct this historic draw is an unbelievable honor,” Ferdinand said.

"As a player, I lived for these global stages - now I’m humbled to play a different, special role together with an incredible line-up to reveal the 12 groups of four teams that the whole world is waiting for.”

Ice Hockey icon Gretzky praised the World Cup for unifying people from all around the planet.

“Soccer has a unique power to unite people from all over the world and create a positive impact, and I cannot wait to see this happening in North America next year and beyond, when we host the biggest-ever FIFA World Cup,” Gretzky said in a press release.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the draw that will decide the fate of the participating teams - and stir emotions across the world. This will be an unforgettable moment for me personally.”

In addition to the aforementioned sporting icons, model Heidi Klum and actors Kevin Hart and Danny Ramirez will be in attendance.

Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and The Village People will perform on the stage.

When is the World Cup draw?

The draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place on Friday, 5 December at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, at 17:00 GMT.

The 48 participating teams will be placed into four pots of 12 based on Fifa rankings.

Rankings will be subject to change depending on which nations qualify via the playoffs, though the playoff teams will likely be put in pot four.

The tournament itself will take place next summer across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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