Arya News - The qualified teams will be drawn into one of 12 groups Friday at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
FIFA has announced the celebrity lineup for Friday"s 2026 World Cup draw, which will begin at 12 p.m. ET at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The draw itself will be co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum, comedian Kevin Hart and actor Danny Ramirez. There will also be live musical performances from Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as the Village People.
Rio Ferdinand, a member of three England World Cup squads, along with broadcaster Samantha Johnson will be among the draw conductors.
“To conduct this historic draw is an unbelievable honor,” said Ferdinand in a statement. “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.”
Tom Brady and David Beckham at the Sky Bet League One match between Birmingham City FC and Wrexham AFC at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
(Alex Pantling via Getty Images)
Ferdinand and Johnson will draw the 12, four-team groups with help from NFL great Tom Brady, hockey Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O"Neal, and New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge.
Longtime New York Giants quarterback and 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist Eli Manning will provide coverage from the red carpet.
Brady is involved in the soccer world after becoming a minority owner and chairman of EFL Championship side Birmingham F.C. Manning is also a member of an ownership group after purchasing a stake in Gotham FC of the NWSL in 2022 . O"Neal has expressed his support of Northampton Town of England"s League One, thanks to his business relationship with club chairman Kelvin Thomas.