Ferdinand to conduct World Cup draw with sporting greats

Rio Ferdinand, a former England and Manchester United defender, will play in Washington, DC on Friday for the 2026 World Cup match.

Samantha Johnson, a broadcaster, and a number of other sporting legends, including Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal, will join the 47-year-old.

At 17:00 GMT (12:00 local time), the draw will feature 48 nations at the Kennedy Center.

Ferdinand, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, and Queens Park Rangers, won 14 awards while playing for Old Trafford before transitioning to broadcasting in 2015 after retiring.

Along with NBA legend O’Neal, who won four championships during his 19-year career, and New York Yankees hero and seven-time MLB all-star Judge, NFL legend Brady, who won seven Super Bowls and legendary NHL player Gretzky, who is a four-time Stanley Cup champion, will play.

The 1970s classic song “YMCA,” which has more recently become a part of president Donald Trump’s campaign rallies, will be performed by American disco group Village People.

On the bill are former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and British superstar Robbie Williams.

Heidi Klum, the supermodel and Emmy Award winner, and actor and comedian Kevin Hart will co-host the program, and producer and actor Danny Ramirez will speak with those present.

The United States, Mexico, and Canada will jointly host the 2026 World Cup, which will take place from June 11 through July 19.