Fifa confirmed performances by international artists in the draw for the group stage of Copa of Mundo 2026, scheduled for this Friday, December 5th, at Kennedy Center, at Washington D.C., at Estados Unidos. The event, which defines the clashes between 48 teams, starts at 12 pm local time and highlights musical performances to attract a global audience.
Among the names announced, the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli opens the program with a classical performance, followed by a duet between the British Robbie Williams, the entity’s musical ambassador, and the American Nicole Scherzinger. The group Village People ends the ceremony with the iconic song Y.M.C.A., associated with recent public events.
The choice of attractions reflects Fifa’s strategy of merging sport and entertainment in an expanded tournament. The draw takes place amid classifications already defined for 42 teams, with the remaining places to be resolved in repechages until March 2026.
- Main performers: Andrea Bocelli (opening), Robbie Williams and Nicole Scherzinger (duet), Village People (closing).
- Broadcast locations: Globo, SporTV, GE TV and CazéTV on Brasil.
- Local time: 12pm in Washington D.C., equivalent to 2pm in Brasília.
Presenters lead the ceremony
Heidi Klum, German supermodel winner of Ela shares the presentation with comedian Kevin Hart, known for productions in Hollywood, and actor Danny Ramirez, who interacts with football legends and the audience present.
The duo Klum and Hart lead the ball extractions, while Ramirez, with Mexican and American roots, highlights the cultural connection of the tripartite tournament. The event is attended by authorities and representatives of confederations, reinforcing the official nature of the occasion.
Fifa emphasizes diversity in presenters to reflect the global scope of the competition. Ramirez expressed enthusiasm in an official note, citing his football childhood and ties with México and Estados Unidos.
The format includes live interactions to maintain engagement during pot allocations.
Allocation pot details
The division of the pots was announced by Fifa on November 25th, based on the Ranking Mundial Masculino of November 19th, 2025. Países-seat occupy pot 1 automatically, ensuring balance in the groups.
Selections like Brasil, Argentina and França are in the first pot alongside the hosts. The process prevents two teams from the same confederation, except UEFA, from falling into the same group, with sequential extractions from A to L.
Intercontinental and European play-offs fill pot 4 with six spots pending. Essa structure aims for competitiveness in 104 scheduled matches.
- Pot 1: Canadá, México, USA, Espanha, Argentina, França, Inglaterra,
- Pot 2: Croácia, Marrocos, Colômbia, Uruguai, Suíça, Japão,
- Pot 3: Noruega, Panamá, Egito, Argélia, Escócia, Sul.
- Pot 4: Jordânia, Cabo Verde, Gana, Curaçao, Haiti,
Unprecedented scale of the 2026 tournament
The 2026 Mundial represents the largest edition in history, with 48 teams competing from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities across the three host countries. Most games take place in American stadiums, exploring the local sports market.
The opening match is confirmed for Estádio Azteca, on Cidade of México, with México on Grupo A, Canadá on B and USA on D.
This triple configuration promotes North American integration in football. Fifa projects audience records with the expansion from 32 to 48 selections.
Logistics involves interstate travel, with a focus on sustainability in transport.
The expansion adds 16 extra games, distributed across extended knockout stages. Equipes of América of Sul and África gain more representatives, changing traditional dynamics.
Cultural connections at the event
Kennedy Center, the stage for the draw, has hosted performances that link music and sport since its inauguration. The choice of Village People evokes associations with recent political events in the US, including appearances at rallies.
Robbie Williams, as ambassador, reinforces Fifa’s ties with the British pop industry. Bocelli, with a career of more than 90 million records sold, brings a classic element to the mix.
Scherzinger, formerly of Pussycat Dolls, adds contemporary appeal to the duet. Essas selections target a young and diverse audience.
The event integrates local elements of Washington, such as interactions with the public in the scenic center.
Final preparations for Mundial
Fifa launched the official Trionda ball for the tournament, symbolizing the hosts’ triple unity. Treinadores teams monitor the draw to plan initial preparations.
Asian and African qualifiers completed recent vacancies, with Japão and Senegal confirmed. The European playoff, in March, will define the last Europeans.
The tournament prioritizes accessibility, with tickets via the official platform. Fifa estimates 5 million fans in the stadiums.
Logistics includes hotels in 16 headquarters, from Seattle to Monterrey.
