"Tom Brady and Shaquille O'Neal are two of the headliners that will assist with Friday's World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., FIFA announced on Wednesday. The seven-time Super Bowl winner and NBA Hall of Famer will join ex-Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand along with Yankees slugger, Aaron Judge and former NHL star Wayne Gretzky as part of the team on stage as balls are drawn to assign nations participating in the World Cup to their assigned groups."
""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," said Brady, a part owner of English Championship side Birmingham City, in a FIFA release. "I'm excited to help set the path for a tournament that brings the world together like nothing else." A record 64 nations will be in Friday's World Cup draw, more than 30% of FIFA's members."
"FIFA expanded the field from 32 teams to 48 for the 2026 edition, and just 42 spots have been determined going into the ceremony. Twenty-two teams in Friday's draw are headed to playoffs that determine the final six berths on March 31. There will be 104 games instead of 64 in the World Cup running from June 11 through July 19 at 16 venues throughout North America."
Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, Rio Ferdinand, Aaron Judge and Wayne Gretzky will assist on stage for the World Cup Final Draw in Washington, D.C. A record 64 nations will be part of the draw after FIFA expanded the tournament to 48 teams for 2026. Forty-two qualification spots are already determined, with 22 teams in Friday's draw facing playoffs that decide the final six berths on March 31. The 2026 World Cup will include 104 matches across 16 North American venues, with the final at MetLife Stadium and a first-ever halftime show. The format adds a round of 32 including eight third-place qualifiers.
Read at ESPN.com
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