FIFA announced on Wednesday the assistants for the 2026 World Cup draw happening this Friday, featuring several North American sports icons, including six-time Super Bowl winner and FOX Sports’ NFL analyst Tom Brady. Brady expressed his excitement, calling it an incredible honor to be involved in the World Cup draw, a stage that every athlete aspires to reach, and looked forward to helping shape a tournament that unites the world like never before.
The final draw will be broadcast live on FOX from 11:30 a.m. ET on Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, revealing the group stage brackets for the 48 teams competing in next summer’s World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Alongside Brady, NHL Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion Wayne Gretzky, seven-time MLB All-Star Aaron Judge, and four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal will assist in the draw.
Judge shared his enthusiasm, saying he follows soccer closely and finds it special to be part of the World Cup draw, especially since the final will be held in New York-New Jersey, the region where he plays. FIFA also announced that former England captain and Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand will conduct the draw with award-winning broadcaster Samantha Johnson, while two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning will host the red carpet.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11th.
Fan Take: Hockey fans should take note of Wayne Gretzky’s involvement in the World Cup draw, highlighting how soccer’s growth in North America is bridging sports communities. This increased cross-sport collaboration could boost hockey’s global visibility and inspire new fan engagement across different athletic audiences.
