FIFA has announced an extraordinary cross-sport line-up to support Rio Ferdinand and Samantha Johnson at the Final Draw for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 in Washington, DC.
Washington, DC | By Sayer Zaland
FIFA will bring together some of the biggest names in global sport for the Final Draw of the FIFA World Cup 2026, transforming Washington, DC, into the centre of international attention on 5 December 2025. The draw, held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will reveal the group-stage pathway for the first-ever 48-team World Cup.
Former England captain and FIFA Legend Rio Ferdinand will conduct the draw alongside award-winning broadcaster Samantha Johnson, in what FIFA has described as one of the most ambitious draw productions in the tournament’s history.
The event will feature an unprecedented multi-sport cast. Seven-time NFL Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and MLB All-Star Aaron Judge will serve as draw assistants, symbolically linking the world’s most-watched football tournament with North America’s dominant sporting cultures.
Ferdinand described the honour as “an unbelievable moment,” adding that the 2026 edition marks a historic transition for global football.
Brady said he was proud to take part in “a global moment every athlete dreams of,” while Gretzky praised football’s ability to “unite people from all over the world.”
Judge, whose home stadium sits near one of the World Cup’s host venues, said he is “eager to see which teams compete for the title in our own backyard.” O’Neal emphasised the draw’s symbolic importance for players and supporters.
Two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning will host the event’s red carpet show, adding further star power to the production.
The Final Draw will be broadcast globally on FIFA.com and through FIFA’s official media partners from 12:00 ET (18:00 CET), accompanied by a high-profile entertainment programme announced separately.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition featuring 48 teams, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The expanded format introduces 12 groups of four teams and a record 104 matches. The United States will host the majority of fixtures, including the final.