Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand will be conducting the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC alongside a host of sporting greats. The 47-year-old will be joined by broadcaster Samantha Johnson and icons such as Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal. The event is part of preparations for the World Cup, which will run from June 11th to July 19th.
The draw ceremony, taking place at the Kennedy Center on Friday, will feature 48 nations competing in the tournament. Ferdinand, a winner of 14 trophies during his playing career, has transitioned into broadcasting after retiring in 2015. He is set to be assisted by Brady, Gretzky, Judge, and O'Neal, who have all enjoyed significant success in their respective sports.
Village People are scheduled to perform 'YMCA', a song more commonly associated with Donald Trump's campaign rallies, at the event. Additionally, British superstar Robbie Williams, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger will be part of the lineup. The show is co-hosted by Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, with actor Danny Ramirez set to interview attendees.
The 2026 World Cup will see the United States, Mexico, and Canada host joint tournament. It can be watched live across the BBC, including on iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, Radio 5 Live, and BBC Sounds.
The draw ceremony, taking place at the Kennedy Center on Friday, will feature 48 nations competing in the tournament. Ferdinand, a winner of 14 trophies during his playing career, has transitioned into broadcasting after retiring in 2015. He is set to be assisted by Brady, Gretzky, Judge, and O'Neal, who have all enjoyed significant success in their respective sports.
Village People are scheduled to perform 'YMCA', a song more commonly associated with Donald Trump's campaign rallies, at the event. Additionally, British superstar Robbie Williams, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger will be part of the lineup. The show is co-hosted by Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, with actor Danny Ramirez set to interview attendees.
The 2026 World Cup will see the United States, Mexico, and Canada host joint tournament. It can be watched live across the BBC, including on iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, Radio 5 Live, and BBC Sounds.
, and hosting the World Cup draw is a dream come true for any sports fan! The lineup is fire 
, and I'm hyped to see Tom Brady and Shaq making an appearance. Village People performing 'YMCA' is gonna be wild 
. Can't wait to watch the tournament on BBC – got my popcorn ready 
I'm already imagining all the excitement in that Kennedy Center with Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaq O'Neal by his side 
! And can we talk about the music lineup? Village People performing at the event is gonna be a total party vibe 
, I'm hyped to see them perform together. It's gonna be such an incredible show 
I guess it's cool that Rio Ferdinand is getting to do the honors and all, but it feels like it's more about the celebrities than the actual footy. And what's with Village People playing at a major sporting event? Is this gonna be some kinda crazy party vibe or what? 
And the Village People performing at it is just gonna be wild 
️! I'm curious to see how they're all going to make the World Cup draw ceremony work – it's gotta be a lot of fun for everyone involved 
still super hyped for it tho!
Also, Village People performing at the event seems kinda weird... 'YMCA' isn't exactly a party anthem, you know? Is this some kind of publicity stunt for the Trump campaign? 
And let's not forget the music - Village People doing "YMCA" is gonna get everyone on their feet! I'm actually kinda excited to see Robbie Williams, Andrea Bocelli, and Nicole Scherzinger perform. The host lineup looks pretty solid too, with Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart keeping everything light-hearted and fun. 
Can't wait for the tournament itself - it's gonna be a wild ride with the US, Mexico, and Canada hosting joint games! 
and omg village people performing YMCA at the event? what's next?! 
i'm not really into tom brady, but hey, he's a legend in his own right... and robbie williams is gonna bring the energy with his performances. the us, mexico, and canada hosting joint tournament is exciting too - can't wait to see how it all comes together!