Today the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw turned Washington D.C. into the ultimate sports-meets-celebrity stage. Rio Ferdinand, FIFA Legend and former England captain, joined forces with award-winning broadcaster Samantha Johnson to run the historic 48-team draw, setting the tone for soccer’s next era.
What celebrities were involved?
It wasn’t just about the draw. The event was also a who’s-who of famous celebrities. The event was hosted on stage by Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart. The ‘Red Carpet’ host was Eli Manning. And ‘Draw Assistants’ included Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal. For the first time ever, fans saw 12 groups of four come together, shaping the matchups that will define the road to the 2026 final.
What is the final draw for the FIFA World Cup?
The final draw is the official ceremony where FIFA places each of the 48 qualifying national teams into groups for the tournament. Typically, groups are named ‘A’ through ‘H’, each consisting of just four teams. For instance, in 2022’s World Cup, the United States was placed in ‘Group B’ alongside England, Iran, and Wales. This year, however, as they added more teams to the tournament, the groups go up to ‘L’.
Which groups will be playing in L.A.?
Group B
- Canada
- Winner of Playoff A
- Qatar
- Switzerland
Group D
- United States
- Paraguay
- Australia
- Winner of Playoff C
Group G
- Belgium
- Egypt
- Iran
- New Zealand