WASHINGTON, D.C. (KCTV) – Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and extra will reveal which groups Kansas City will host within the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA mentioned the sports activities legends will function draw assistants alongside former England captain Rio Ferdinand and broadcaster Samantha Johnson.
The occasion is ready to occur at midday ET on Friday, Dec. 5, on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Kansas City is anticipated to lastly study which of the 48 groups will compete within the metro through the historic event.
Joining Ferdinand, the occasion’s host, FIFA indicated that a number of American sports activities legends will help reveal the matchups:
- Tom Brady, 7-time NFL Super Bowl Champion
- Shaquille O’Neal, 4-time NBA championship winner and Hall of Famer
- Wayne Gretzky, 4-time Stanley Cup champion and Hall of Famer
- Aaron Judge, 7-time MLB All-Star
“Being part of the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup is an incredible honour – it’s the kind of global stage every athlete dreams of,“ said Brady. “I’m excited to help set the path for a tournament that brings the world together like nothing else.”
O’Neal emphasised the occasion’s world significance: “The World Cup is one of the biggest stages in sports, and being part of the final draw is something in which I take a lot of pride.”
FIFA famous that the 2026 World Cup will mark the primary 48-team competitors, an growth from the standard 32-team format. The event can be collectively hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Ferdinand, who will conduct the draw, referred to as it an “unbelievable honor.”
“As a player, I lived for these global stages,” Ferdinand mentioned. “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.”
The Final Draw is anticipated to be broadcast dwell on FIFA.com and by FIFA’s media companions worldwide. The occasion guarantees to “blend sport, entertainment and spectacle like never before,” in accordance to the Association.
Several watch events have been deliberate round Kansas City to assist group involvement. The draw will decide group-stage matchups for the event, which kicks off in the summertime.
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