Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal assist with the draw for the 2026 World Cup

Sports legends from outside of football, including American football’s Tom Brady, basketball’s Shaquille O’Neal, hockey’s Wayne Gretzky and current All-Star baseball player Aaron Judge, will assist in the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. on Friday

FIFA on Wednesday announced the lineup of current and former sports stars, as well as entertainers, for the event at the Kennedy Center. The show reveals the group stage matches for the first-ever 48-team World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup, expanded from 32 teams, will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The matches will be played at 16 locations, including three in Mexico and two in Canada.

The draw divides the teams into twelve groups of four. The top two teams from each group and the top eight third-place teams will advance to the knockout stages.

With 42 teams already qualified, 22 others will compete in the play-offs for the final six places in the coming months.

English Premier League Hall of Fame member Rio Ferdinand, a former Manchester United captain with 81 England caps, will lead the draw. The co-conductor is broadcaster Samantha Johnson.

The four sporting legends will serve as assistants, each assigned one pot and choosing the names of the teams assigned to a group, from Group A to L.

“Football has the unique power to unite people around the world and create a positive impact, and I can’t wait to see this happen next year and beyond in North America as we host the greatest FIFA World Cup ever,” Gretzky, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and record-breaking NHL player, said in a FIFA press release.

“I am thrilled to be part of the draw that will determine the fate of the participating teams – and stir emotions around the world. This will be an unforgettable moment for me personally.”

Brady, who won seven Super Bowls before retiring, is co-owner of English champion club Birmingham City.

“Being part of the final draw for the FIFA World Cup is an incredible honor; it’s the kind of global stage every athlete dreams of,” Brady said in the press release. “I look forward to helping pave the way for a tournament that brings the world together like no other.”

Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants, is the red carpet host for Friday’s event.

Published on December 4, 2025