FIFA has announced that sports icons Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal will play key roles in the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, set for December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This draw will establish group-stage matchups for the first-ever 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Brady, a seven-time NFL Super Bowl champion, and O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion, will assist in representing one of the four selection pots. They will be joined by former England captain Rio Ferdinand and broadcaster Samantha Johnson. Other sporting legends involved include Wayne Gretzky, a four-time NHL Stanley Cup champion, and Aaron Judge, a seven-time MLB All-Star, who will help draw team names and allocate them into 12 groups labeled A through L.
The participation of these prominent figures highlights a spirit of collaboration among American sports and underscores the unity that the World Cup embodies. FIFA President Gianni Infantino remarked on the importance of this event, emphasizing how the tournament brings people together, bolstered by its larger format involving three host countries and an expanded number of competing nations.
The draw will be broadcast live worldwide, enhancing fan engagement as the teams prepare for a momentous occasion in soccer history, marking the transition from a 32-team to a 48-team format. This expansion aims to give more nations the chance to participate, reflecting soccer’s growing global popularity. The anticipation for the event is palpable, promising a memorable gathering that unites various sports communities through the shared excitement of the World Cup.
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