FIFA give Rio Ferdinand special World Cup draw role alongside four sporting legends

Dec 3, 2025 - 20:45

Rio Ferdinand will play host as a quartet of sporting greats deliver the draw for the 2026 World Cup on Friday.

Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge and Wayne Gretzky will be in charge of the four pots in Washington DC – live on talkSPORT.

Fox sports announcer Tom Brady looks on prior to the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys — Brady is one of four sporting legends named as the ‘draw assistants’

Ferdinand will conduct the event alongside broadcaster Samantha Johnson, with NFL legend Eli Manning given the role of ‘red carpet host’.

“To conduct this historic draw is an unbelievable honour,” said Ferdinand.

“As a player, I lived for these global stages – 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.”

FIFA described its draw assistants as ‘an extraordinary cast of cross-sport icons’ ahead of the greatest show on earth in the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.

In Brady, O’Neal, Judge and Gretzky, they have some of the most iconic Hall of Famers from the worlds of American football, basketball, baseball and ice hockey respectively.

“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 added: “When you’ve worn your country’s colours, you understand how much moments like this mean.

“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.

“It’s such a special moment for the players and for the fans around the world, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”