The road to the 2026 World Cup begins with the draw from the iconic John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, where the 48 countries will learn their fate in the most important national team tournament, which will be divided into 12 groups of four. FIFA has already announced that the hosts will be seeded, with Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B and the United States in Group D.
As is customary, during the event there will be sports figures, who have already been confirmed by FIFA with their participation and in this edition the host will be Rio Ferdinand, former captain of the England national team and Manchester United legend, who quickly shared his enthusiasm at being chosen:
Cristiano Ronaldo faces a robot goalie in an impossible scoring challenge
To be conducting this historic draw is an incredible honour. As a player, I lived for these global stages; now I feel honoured to play a different and special role alongside an incredible line-up to reveal the 12 groups of four teams that everyone is waiting for
Ferdinand will be joined by international commentator Samantha Johnson, while other entertainment personalities such as Heidi Klum, Kevin Hart and Danny Ramirez will share the hosting of the event.
Who is the host of the 2026 World Cup red carpet and which sporting legends will be present?
The red carpet at the event is always eye-catching because it is where all the celebrities and sportsmen and women in attendance parade. This year, FIFA has chosen Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion and an American football legend with the New York Giants, to host the gala
As is customary, this great event will be attended by soccer legends who have also been confirmed by FIFA, such as:
- Tom Brady: Seven-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Wayne Gretzky: Four-time NHL Stanley Cup champion
- Aaron Judge: New York Yankees star and three-time MLB American League MVP
- Shaquille O’Neal: Four-time NBA champion
International Artists and Live Shows at the 2026 World Cup Draw
Additionally, the ceremony will feature high-level musical performances including Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger and the Village People, who will offer live performances to liven up the event.
The draw will begin at 12:00 p.m. ET on Friday, December 5, marking the official start of the 2026 World Cup. It is worth noting that the official schedule, dates and venues will be shared on Saturday, December 6.
