Tom Brady, Rio Ferdinand, and Sports Legends to Lead Star-Studded 2026 World Cup Draw
Final Draw Ceremony Overview
Draw Date
Sports Legends
Teams
Groups
🎭 Star-Studded Lineup
DRAW CONDUCTORS: Rio Ferdinand (Football) & Samantha Johnson (Broadcaster)
DRAW ASSISTANTS: Tom Brady (NFL), Wayne Gretzky (NHL), Shaquille O’Neal (NBA), Aaron Judge (MLB)
RED CARPET HOST: Eli Manning (NFL)
LOCATION: Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC
Rio Ferdinand: Leading the Historic Draw
Former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand will serve as the primary draw conductor, guiding the ceremony alongside award-winning international broadcaster Samantha Johnson. Ferdinand, who represented England at three World Cups and earned 81 caps for the Three Lions, called the opportunity “an unbelievable honor” and emphasized the special responsibility of conducting the draw for the world’s biggest sporting event.
World Cups: Represented England at 1998, 2002, and 2006 tournaments
Club Career: Manchester United legend, six Premier League titles
Defensive Prowess: Considered one of England’s greatest center-backs
Post-Retirement: Successful broadcaster and football pundit
Draw Statement: “As a player, I lived for these global stages”
Team Assignments: Drawing teams from seeding pots into 12 groups
Confederation Rules: Ensuring geographic distribution requirements met
Global Audience: Billions watching worldwide as groups revealed
Historic Moment: First-ever 48-team World Cup draw ceremony
Ferdinand Quote: “Now I’m humbled to play a different, special role”
Tom Brady: NFL Legend Joins Football’s Biggest Stage
Seven-time Super Bowl champion and FOX Sports lead NFL analyst Tom Brady will serve as one of the draw assistants, marking a remarkable crossover between American football and the global game. Brady, who recently became minority owner and chairman of EFL Championship side Birmingham FC, expressed his excitement about participating in football’s ultimate global stage.
Career Highlights: Three NFL MVP awards, 15 Pro Bowl selections
Legacy Status: Widely considered greatest quarterback ever
Current Role: FOX Sports lead NFL analyst
Global Icon: One of most recognizable athletes worldwide
Draw Quote: “It’s the kind of global stage every athlete dreams of”
Soccer Fan: “I follow soccer closely” – Brady statement
Investment: Active in growing English football club
Draw Assistant Role: Helping draw teams from seeding pots
Global Reach: Bringing NFL fanbase to World Cup ceremony
Historic Honor: “Being part of Final Draw is incredible honor”
Wayne Gretzky: The Great One Represents Hockey
NHL all-time leading scorer and four-time Stanley Cup champion Wayne Gretzky brings hockey royalty to the World Cup draw. Known as “The Great One,” Gretzky emphasized soccer’s unique power to unite people globally and expressed his excitement about the tournament coming to North America.
Stanley Cups: Four championships with Edmonton Oilers
MVP Awards: Nine Hart Trophies (NHL MVP)
Canadian Icon: Most celebrated hockey player in history
Hall of Fame: Inducted immediately after retirement
Global Ambassador: Represents hockey worldwide
North American Pride: Excited about World Cup in Canada, USA, Mexico
Draw Significance: “Will decide fate of participating teams”
Personal Honor: “Unforgettable moment for me personally”
Canadian Representation: Bringing hockey culture to football stage
Global Impact: “Create positive impact…happening in North America”
Shaquille O’Neal: NBA Legend Joins the Show
Four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal adds basketball royalty to the star-studded lineup. Standing at seven-foot-one, Shaq’s larger-than-life personality and global recognition make him perfect for the ceremonial role of draw assistant at football’s biggest event.
🏀 Shaquille O’Neal’s Credentials
Aaron Judge: MLB Superstar Represents Baseball
New York Yankees slugger and seven-time MLB All-Star Aaron Judge brings America’s pastime to the World Cup ceremony. Judge expressed special excitement about the tournament’s final being held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, right where he plays for the Yankees.
New York Yankees: Team captain and franchise cornerstone
2022 AL MVP: American League Most Valuable Player
Home Run Record: Set AL single-season home run record (62)
Rookie of the Year: 2017 AL Rookie of the Year winner
Current Star: One of baseball’s biggest active names
Local Connection: MetLife Stadium hosts World Cup Final
Judge Quote: “Right where I play – in our own backyard”
Excitement: Can’t wait to see teams battling for title nearby
Draw Role: Special honor being part of World Cup draw
New York Pride: Representing New York at global event
Eli Manning: Red Carpet Host
Two-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist Eli Manning will serve as the red carpet host, providing pre-draw programming coverage. Manning, who recently became minority owner of NWSL’s Gotham FC, brings his championship pedigree and New York football legacy to the ceremony.
🎬 Eli Manning’s Role
The Multi-Sport Crossover Strategy
FIFA’s decision to assemble a “legendary multi-sport lineup” represents an unprecedented approach to the World Cup draw ceremony, strategically leveraging North American sports icons to maximize interest and viewership across different fan bases as the tournament comes to the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time.
North American Appeal: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL fans engage with soccer
Media Coverage: Sports networks across all leagues cover the draw
Social Media Impact: Combined follower count reaches hundreds of millions
Cultural Bridge: Connecting American sports with global football
Host Nation Connection: Stars from sports popular in USA/Canada/Mexico
Wayne Gretzky: 4 Stanley Cup titles (NHL)
Shaquille O’Neal: 4 NBA championships
Eli Manning: 2 Super Bowl titles (NFL)
Total Championships: 17 combined titles across four major sports
Legendary Status: All considered among greatest in their sports
Draw Ceremony Details and Format
The Final Draw ceremony will take place at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC on December 5, 2025, starting at 1:00 PM ET. FOX will broadcast the event live, with coverage beginning at 11:30 AM ET. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours as all 48 teams are drawn into 12 groups of four.
Draw Day Schedule
Kevin Hart: Comedian bringing entertainment value
Danny Ramirez: Actor participating in presentation
Host Roles: Guiding ceremony between draw segments
Entertainment Factor: Keeping global audience engaged
Celebrity Star Power: Adding glamour to proceedings
Robbie Williams: British pop icon taking stage
Nicole Scherzinger: Singer and performer
Village People: Iconic band performing classics
Performance Timing: Musical interludes between draw segments
Global Appeal: Artists representing different musical styles
How the Draw Process Works
The draw assistants will work alongside Rio Ferdinand and Samantha Johnson to pull teams from four seeding pots into 12 groups. Each group will contain one team from each pot, with confederation constraints ensuring no group has more than two European teams and only one team from other confederations.
Pot 2: Teams ranked 13-24 in FIFA World Rankings
Pot 3: Teams ranked 25-36 in FIFA World Rankings
Pot 4: Teams ranked 37-48 in FIFA World Rankings
Draw Order: Pot 1 first, then Pots 2, 3, and 4 sequentially
Assistant Roles: Legends physically draw teams from each pot
Other Confederations: Maximum 1 team per group from CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, etc
Computer Verification: System checks rules in real-time during draw
Redraw Protocol: If rule violated, team returned and redrawn
Host Distribution: USA, Canada, Mexico pre-assigned to Groups A, B, C
Geographic Balance: Ensures global representation across all groups
Global Viewing Information
The draw ceremony will be broadcast worldwide across multiple platforms, ensuring football fans everywhere can witness the historic moment when the 48-team groups are revealed. In the United States, FOX will provide comprehensive coverage, while international broadcasters will offer localized commentary in dozens of languages.
How to Watch Worldwide
What Happens After the Draw
Once all 48 teams are assigned to their groups, national team managers will immediately begin analyzing opponents, planning tactics, and scheduling final preparation matches. The draw results will also determine venue assignments and the complete match schedule for the tournament.
📅 Post-Draw Timeline
Historical Context and Significance
While World Cup draws have traditionally featured football legends exclusively, FIFA’s decision to incorporate multi-sport icons reflects both the tournament’s North American location and the growing interconnection between global sports. The star power assembled for this ceremony is unprecedented in World Cup history.
2022 Qatar: Cafu, Lothar Matthäus, Adel Ahmed MalAllah conducted
2018 Russia: Diego Maradona, Carles Puyol, Laurent Blanc involved
2014 Brazil: Alcides Ghiggia, Mário Zagallo, Fabio Cannavaro
Entertainment: Growing emphasis on ceremony production values
Global Reach: Each draw ceremony reaches larger worldwide audience
North American Focus: Stars from NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL representing host region
Marketing Strategy: Expanding World Cup appeal to non-traditional soccer audiences
Celebrity Power: Combined star power unprecedented in World Cup history
Entertainment Value: Hollywood-level production for global ceremony
Historic Moment: First 48-team World Cup draw ever conducted
The assembly of Tom Brady, Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O’Neal, and Aaron Judge for the World Cup 2026 Final Draw represents an unprecedented fusion of sporting excellence, bringing together champions from football, American football, hockey, basketball, and baseball to reveal the groups that will shape the tournament’s narrative.
As these legends gather at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center on December 5, they’ll help write the first chapter of the most ambitious World Cup in history. From Brady’s Super Bowl glory to Gretzky’s hockey dominance, from Shaq’s NBA championships to Judge’s baseball excellence, and guided by Ferdinand’s World Cup experience, this star-studded ceremony promises to captivate audiences far beyond traditional football fans. With 48 teams, 12 groups, and unlimited possibilities, the draw will set the stage for the summer of 2026 when the world’s greatest sporting event comes to North America and these legends help determine which teams will chase glory across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.