The whole world is watching — and it just feels awkward.
Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum are hosting the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, with viewers in just about every country around the world tuning in, and the reviews quickly came flooding in on social media with soccer fans wondering what Hart was doing there.
The comedian and actor tried to play up his soccer chops during his monologue.
Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum host the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, AP
“I am proud to be here as a soccer fan,” Hart said. “Wait, correction. I should not say soccer. The rest of the world calls it football. I do know my Messi from my Michael Jordan, I know my Cristiano from my Stephen Curry, I know my Bellingham from my Tom Brady.”
That’s Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and England’s Jude Bellingham for the uninitiated.
But some soccer fans weren’t buying it, and cringed at who was picked to represent the event being held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.
“Americans are so cringe talking about football get kevin hart off my screen,” one social media user wrote.
“This World Cup draw is going to be a humiliation ritual for Americans. How the f–k is Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum our representatives of the sport in this country,” another person wrote.
“Going from Bocelli to Kevin Hart is the biggest L America has ever taken,” a third person wrote, referring to an opening performance by singer Andrea Bocelli.
Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum host the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Getty Images
The 2026 World Cup draw will determine the pools for the upcoming tournament next summer, which is jointly being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Among those on hand for the draw on Friday was Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
The team shared on its social media a photo of Kraft at the Kennedy Center alongside Hart and The Village People.
Other American sports stars on hand for the event included Yankees slugger Aaron Judge and Giants great (and Gotham FC minority owner) Eli Manning.
