Name: Rio Ferdinand to host 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in D.C.
Uploaded: 2025-12-04T22:44:55.392Z
Duration: 1 min 4 s
Description: Former England captain Rio Ferdinand will host the unprecedented 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C., joined by Samantha Johnson and several sports legends as draw assistants.

Former England captain Rio Ferdinand will host the unprecedented 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C., joined by Samantha Johnson and several sports legends as draw assistants.

Washington

Rio Ferdinand, the former England football captain, is set to host the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C. The event marks the first time the tournament will feature 48 teams, expanding from previous editions. Ferdinand expressed excitement and described the opportunity as a 'wild dream,' especially considering his background.

The draw will take place at the Kennedy Centre, with Ferdinand co-hosting alongside broadcasting legend Samantha Johnson. Notable sports figures including Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal will participate as draw assistants, helping determine the tournament's matchups and the route to the final.

Rio Ferdinand to host 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in D.C.

Rio Ferdinand can barely contain himself. The former England captain is just days away from hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C. It's an unprecedented 48-team draw. And I never, ever actually imagined being in the position I am today. We're a couple of days out from being one of the hosts at the FIFA World Cup draw, which is just, for me, from where I'm from, a wild dream. All of these things here that really make for the build-up, then the runway into the World Cup. Ferdinand will be joined by broadcasting legend Samantha Johnson at the iconic Kennedy Centre. The star power doesn't stop there. Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O'Neal will all be draw assistants. It starts getting tasty. It starts getting tantalising. And you can start really feeling where we're going to fit out. We've got the road, the route to the final, the semi-finals, the semi-quarterfinals. So all of those aspects really start from here up on this stage.

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