December 3 – FIFA is turning the World Cup draw into an entertainment spectacular, pushing the event even deeper into Americanised showbusiness and a made-for-tv occasion.
The governing body confirmed that Friday’s Final Draw for the 2026 World Cup – staged at Washington DC’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – will be fronted by supermodel Heidi Klum and comedian Kevin Hart. Actor Danny Ramirez will round out the presenting trio, tasked with “bringing Hollywood flair” to proceedings.
Because that’s what we all need for an event once synonymous with tension and tradition, and built around football heritage.
Klum spoke of being “part of the magic again” two decades after her appearance at the 2006 draw, while Ramirez described the gig as “a dream” and a chance to meet World Cup legends.
The line-up for the event is heavy with star power. Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger will perform before the Village People close the night with Y.M.C.A.
That’s four different performers at the World Cup draw which already feels like a lengthy process – a choice that underscores FIFA’s preference for broad global recognisability over any connection to the sport itself.
The choice of Village People and Y.M.C.A. is a nod to the now interwoven politics of the occasion. The song was often played at Make America Great Again rallies during Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and at fundraisers with Trump dancing while his supporters sang along.
The conductors and assistants who will actually oversee the draw – historically the only people fans care about on the night – have yet to be announced. But they appear secondary to a programme designed to maximise TV reach and commercial appeal as the World Cup’s financial juggernaut rumbles on and up a gear.
With ticketing for 2026 already clouded by fan discontent over dynamic pricing and a tournament format stretched to satisfy revenue ambitions, FIFA’s decision to turn the draw into a hybrid awards show is doing little to reassure traditional supporters that football remains at the heart of its planning.
The draw will be streamed live on FIFA.com and across FIFA’s social channels, as well as through its broadcast partners.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]