The draw ceremony will take place on Friday at the Kennedy Center in Washington. It will be an important stage in the preparation for the championship, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026, in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. A total of 48 teams will participate in this tournament, which will be divided into 12 groups, each consisting of four teams. The top two teams from each group, as well as the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the playoffs.
The draw will be conducted by Rio Ferdinand, former captain of Manchester United, accompanied by host Samantha Johnson. Each of the four well-known athletes will draw teams from one pot, forming groups A–L.
Wayne Gretzky commented on his participation: "Football has a wonderful ability to bring people together from all over the world... I am happy to be part of the draw that will determine the fate of the teams."
Tom Brady also shared his thoughts: "It is an honor for me to participate in the final draw of the World Cup... This event brings people together, and I look forward to helping organize it."
