Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal to Assist with World Cup Draw

WASHINGTON, D.C. — NFL legend Tom Brady and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal are set to participate in Friday’s World Cup draw, FIFA announced Wednesday. The draw, which will assign nations to their respective groups, is scheduled for December 5 and will take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion and part owner of Birmingham City, expressed his excitement about the event. “Being part of the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup is an incredible honor — it’s the kind of global stage every athlete dreams of,” he said in a FIFA release.

Joining Brady and O’Neal will be former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, and NHL great Wayne Gretzky. The collaboration of these sports icons aims to highlight the significance of this global sporting event, which represents a coming together of nations.

“I follow soccer closely, so being part of the World Cup draw is incredibly special,” Judge reflected. He noted that the final will be hosted in New Jersey, the same region where he plays, heightening the personal connection to the tournament.

Co-hosting the event will be model Heidi Klum, along with actors Kevin Hart and Danny Ramirez. The ceremony will feature performances by Nicole Scherzinger, Andrea Bocelli, and Robbie Williams. The Village People are also expected to perform their famous hit, “Y.M.C.A.”

This year’s World Cup, expanding from 32 to 48 teams, marks a historic moment for FIFA. The draw aims to finalize the group stage matchups for the tournament set to kick off on June 11, 2026, across North America. It will include 104 games, with the final scheduled at MetLife Stadium on July 19.

With a total of 64 nations, FIFA has already determined 42 spots for the tournament. Twenty-two teams from the draw will enter playoffs to secure the remaining six spots by March 31.