Washington, DC will turn into the centre of the sporting universe on Friday, 5 December 2025, as the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ takes over the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
With the first-ever 48-team World Cup on the horizon, FIFA has confirmed a star-studded line-up that blends football royalty with legends from American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey.
Rio Ferdinand to Lead the Draw
England legend Rio Ferdinand will conduct the historic draw, joined by award-winning broadcaster Samantha Johnson.
Together, they will guide the world through the reveal of the 12 groups of four teams each, setting the path to the biggest World Cup in history.
“To conduct this historic draw is an unbelievable honour,” Ferdinand said. “As a player, I lived for these global stages. Now I’m humbled to help unveil the matchups the whole world is waiting for.”
Cross-Sport Greats to Assist
In a rare crossover moment, four American sporting icons will serve as draw assistants:
- Tom Brady – Seven-time NFL Super Bowl champion
- Shaquille O’Neal – NBA Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champion
- Wayne Gretzky – Widely considered the greatest ice hockey player ever
- Aaron Judge – New York Yankees captain and seven-time MLB All-Star
Each will participate in unveiling the group-stage destinies of the 48 nations.
Brady called the opportunity “an incredible honour,” while O’Neal said he takes pride in being part of a moment that “means so much to players and fans around the world.”
Judge, whose home stadium region will host the final, said being involved is “incredibly special,” and Gretzky expressed excitement at witnessing “soccer’s power to unite people” in North America.
Eli Manning to Host the Red Carpet
Two-time NFL Super Bowl champion Eli Manning will bring his familiar charisma to the event as the red carpet host, adding another layer of star power to an already glittering night.
Global Broadcast
The Final Draw will be broadcast live on FIFA.com and partner networks worldwide from 12:00 ET (18:00 CET), with a full entertainment line-up accompanying the ceremony.
