Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal Headline Star-Studded Lineup for World Cup Draw Assistants

Tom Brady and Shaquille O’Neal are set to be the marquee personalities assisting in the upcoming World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. FIFA announced that these celebrated athletes will join other sports icons on stage as the participating nations are allocated into groups.

The event will also feature former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, and NHL legend Wayne Gretzky. This star-studded group is assembled to add excitement to the draw process for the tournament.

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

The draw ceremony will be co-hosted by model Heidi Klum and actors Kevin Hart and Danny Ramirez. Entertainment headliners include Nicole Scherzinger, Andrea Bocelli, and Robbie Williams, providing a spectacular show during the proceedings.

Adding to the celebration, The Village People will perform their iconic hit “Y.M.C.A.” FIFA will also present its inaugural Peace Prize to recognize outstanding contributions to peace. Former NFL quarterback Eli Manning will host the red carpet for the event.

A record 64 teams are set to take part in the draw, reflecting FIFA’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams for the North American World Cup. Of those, 42 team slots are already decided, while 22 nations compete in playoffs for the final six places.

The 2026 World Cup will feature 104 matches across 16 venues in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Most matches, including all quarterfinals onward, will be held in NFL stadiums, with the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This final will also debut a halftime show.

The tournament format advances 12 group winners, 12 runners-up, and eight third-place teams into a new 32-team knockout round. The champion will play a total of eight games. The U.S. team is scheduled to open the World Cup on June 12 in Inglewood, California.