The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw kicked off today at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The globally televised event was hosted by comedian Kevin Hart and supermodel Heidi Klum. Italian singer Andrea Bocelli opened the ceremony with a performance of the aria Nessun Dorma. The 67-year-old tenor is renowned for his operatic range and for being one of the best-selling classical music performers of all time. The performer has a tragic link to the sport as a soccer incident changed his life forever.
The Con Te Partirò is vision-impaired, having lost his sight completely after suffering a soccer-related injury when he was a child.
Andrea was born with the condition congenital glaucoma, which caused him to lose his sight completely at the age of 12 after an accident while playing soccer decades before he would take the stage at the FIFA event.
While the condition left him with limited vision, a brain hemorrhage after being hit in the eye with a soccer ball caused him to go completely blind.
In 2026, the championship tournament will feature 48 teams battling it out on fields across North America as the United States, Mexico, and Canada co-host the global showdown. Along with the official lineup being decided, the league also presented the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump.
The World Cup draw was broadcast live worldwide and featured countless celebrity appearances from athletes, world leaders, and celebrities.
Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger also performed during the ceremony as well as Lauryn Hill and Village People. Former England captain Rio Ferdinand will perform the draw, assisted by legendary athletes like Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O’Neal, Tom Brady, and Aaron Judge.
