Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand is about to conduct Friday’s 2026 World Cup attract Washington DC.

The 47-year-old shall be joined by broadcaster Samantha Johnson and a bunch of sporting greats, together with Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Decide and Shaquille O’Neal.

The draw, which can function 48 nations, takes place on the Kennedy Heart at 17:00 GMT (12:00 native time).

Ferdinand, who additionally performed for Leeds, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, gained 14 trophies throughout a distinguished 12-year-spell at Previous Trafford, earlier than transferring into broadcasting after retiring in 2015.

NFL legend Brady, who gained seven Tremendous Bowls and NHL nice Gretzky – a four-time Stanley Cup champion – will help, alongside NBA icon O’Neal, who gained 4 championships throughout his 19-year profession, and New York Yankees hero and seven-time MLB all-star Decide.

American disco group, Village Individuals, are on account of carry out their iconic Seventies music ‘YMCA’, which has extra lately develop into synonymous with president Donald Trump’s marketing campaign rallies.

British famous person Robbie Williams, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli – who carried out as a part of Leicester Metropolis’s Premier League title-winning celebrations – and former Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger are additionally on the invoice.

The present shall be co-hosted by supermodel and Emmy Award winner Heidi Klum and actor and comic Kevin Hart, with actor and producer Danny Ramirez set to interview these in attendance.

The 2026 World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July and shall be collectively hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada.

Friday’s draw shall be broadcast dwell throughout the BBC – on iPlayer, the BBC Sport web site and app and Radio 5 Stay and BBC Sounds.