Rio Ferdinand to host 2026 World Cup draw alongside superstars from other sports

Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw, set to take place on December 5, 2025, in Washington, USA. He will be joined by presenter Samantha Johnson. In addition to Ferdinand, stars from other sports will also participate in the draw ceremony.

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Details: FIFA has officially announced that Rio Ferdinand will conduct the draw, with four sporting legends assisting him on stage—Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge, and Wayne Gretzky. They will draw teams from four pots, adding star power and a global flair to the event.

Tom Brady is a former American football player, Shaquille O’Neal is a basketball legend, Aaron Judge plays baseball, and Wayne Gretzky is a retired hockey great.

It is worth noting that the tournament will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 cities in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. This will be the first World Cup to feature 48 national teams instead of the traditional 32.

Reminder: Pierluigi Collina has backed the idea of introducing VAR to determine corners at the 2026 World Cup