Global football attention will be firmly fixed on Washington D.C. this Friday as the highly anticipated draw for the FIFA World Cup takes place. England and Scotland are among the nations poised to discover their group stage opponents for the expanded tournament.
A New Draw Procedure for a New Format
Ahead of the ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center, FIFA has outlined the official draw procedure, which includes significant changes from previous editions. The shift to a 48-team format, the presence of three co-hosts, and several yet-to-be-determined qualifiers have necessitated a carefully explained process to avoid potential errors.
The co-hosts—United States, Canada, and Mexico—have all been placed into Pot 1. Due to a new seeding system, football powerhouses like Spain, Argentina, France, and England cannot face each other until the semi-finals, provided they win their respective groups. Additional rules are in place to prevent multiple teams from the same confederation, excluding UEFA, from being drawn together.
Star-Studded Spectacle and Past Controversies
FIFA has organised the event as a major spectacle. The draw will be overseen by former England defender Rio Ferdinand, assisted by an array of American sporting legends including Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O'Neal. US President Donald Trump is expected to attend, with performances from the Village People and Robbie Williams adding to the show.
The governing body will be hoping to steer clear of the controversies that have plagued previous draws. History offers several cautionary tales of when the World Cup draw has spectacularly veered off script.
The 1982 Madrid Farce
The draw for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, expanded to 24 teams, descended into chaos in Madrid. Then FIFA secretary general Sepp Blatter was in charge. A key rule—that only one South American team could be in each group initially—was forgotten during the live televised draw.
This led to Belgium being incorrectly placed with Italy, and Scotland drawn alongside holders Argentina. After a confused delay, visible on the BBC broadcast, officials were forced to correct the error live on air. Scotland were moved to a group with Brazil. Further technical issues followed, with the lottery machines breaking down and a ball opening, requiring manual intervention.
Blatter vs. Robin Williams in 1994
During the last US-hosted draw for the 1994 tournament, comedian Robin Williams brought his unpredictable energy as an assistant. A visibly flustered Blatter struggled to control the proceedings as Williams joked, donned a white glove, and quipped, "let's go through the prizes." The comedian's eccentric performance, including a theatrical bow to Blatter, provided memorable entertainment but highlighted the potential for unpredictability.
Hot and Cold Ball Claims
Blatter was again at the centre of pre-draw controversy ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He had previously claimed that European draws had been "fixed" by using heated or cooled balls to manipulate the outcome. UEFA immediately dismissed the claims, but FIFA was forced to publicly reassure fans about the integrity of their process. Chris Unger, FIFA's director of competitions, stated unequivocally that all balls were identical and the draw was entirely random.
As Washington prepares for its moment in the spotlight, FIFA will be aiming for a smooth, controversy-free ceremony that sets the stage for next summer's historic 48-team World Cup.
