Gretzky, O'Neal and other stars to conduct 2026 World Cup final draw: Ukraine's potential opponents
Photo: Ukraine to learn potential opponents at the 2026 World Cup (Getty Images)
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has announced the names of hosts and honorary guests for the draw ceremony of the final stage of the 2026 World Cup, according to the official FIFA website.
When and where the event will take place
The ceremony will be held on December 5 at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, starting at 19:00 Kyiv time.
The draw will form 12 tournament groups, with four teams in each.
So far, 42 of the 48 future participants have been confirmed. The full lineup will be finalized in March 2026, following the completion of the intercontinental and European playoff tournaments.
Ukraine’s national team will also take part in the playoffs. On Friday, it will learn its potential group-stage opponents if it qualifies for the World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will be the largest in history, both in terms of the number of teams and the scale of events.
Stars at the draw ceremony
The main hosts of the event will be former Manchester United defender and ex-captain of the England national team, Rio Ferdinand, and well-known British journalist and TV presenter Samantha Johnson.
In addition, the show will feature supermodel Heidi Klum, actor Danny Ramirez, and American comedian Kevin Hart.
FIFA has also involved several world-famous athletes to assist with the draw:
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Tom Brady – seven-time Super Bowl winner (American football)
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Wayne Gretzky – four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the icons of world hockey
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Aaron Judge – seven-time MLB All-Star (baseball)
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Shaquille O’Neal – four-time NBA champion
On the red carpet, guests will be greeted by Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants.
A musical program is also planned, featuring performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, and Nicole Scherzinger.
Who will broadcast the ceremony
In Ukraine, the 2026 World Cup final tournament draw can be watched live on the channel "Suspilne Sport", on the MEGOGO media service platforms, and on FIFA’s official website.
