Former England defender Rio Ferdinand has shared his first full response to the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, held final Friday in USA, the place he was a part of the star-studded draw staff. Talking by way of his official Rio Ferdinand Presents X deal with, the Manchester United legend gave followers an inside take a look at what it felt prefer to be on stage alongside world icons whereas additionally providing his early evaluation of England’s group.
Ferdinand admitted that regardless of enjoying in entrance of a few of the greatest crowds in world soccer, being concerned within the stay World Cup draw introduced a unique sort of stress, one he couldn’t management the identical means he did as a participant.
In accordance with Rio Ferdinard presents official X deal with video, Ferdinand mentioned:
Properly guys, there it’s. It’s completed. We’re nonetheless within the constructing right here. That is the place the FIFA 2026 World Cup draw was held. I used to be on right here. We stayed on the stage with Huge Shaq, Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and all the opposite guys that had been on there, man… It was a fantastic night to be right here. I’ve performed soccer in entrance of some hefty, wholesome crowds however I’ve by no means been this nervous for something as a result of after I’m enjoying soccer it’s a little bit of a controllable nervousness.
After the occasion, Ferdinand lastly took a second to digest the teams correctly, and one particularly grabbed his consideration for all the appropriate causes.
He continued:
So being part of that was nice. However man, hear, that is the primary time I’m really digesting the teams correctly since I’ve been on the present. And yeah, Mexico’s first sport I feel being South Africa is an effective one… what group I like instantly? Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. The fan bases in that group are nuts. I feel it’s going to be a extremely good group. I feel there might be some upsets in that group.
However when it got here to England’s group, Ferdinand didn’t disguise his disappointment. He mentioned:
I weren’t pleased with England’s group, you already know. You need a group the place you go, ‘Hear, we will simply sneak via there, not too many exhausting video games. However we’ve acquired Croatia — Modric-inspired Croatia — Ghana, and Panama. Panama I feel we should always win in opposition to, however Ghana and Croatia will make it troublesome. They’ll be powerful video games. I nonetheless again us to win the group, however I wish to have seen a neater runway.
Watch the complete breakdown of World cup draw by Rio Ferdinard:
Ferdinand, an England icon himself, will likely be hoping his nation, who certified for the 2026 World Cup in record-breaking style, profitable each sport and conceding zero targets can carry that momentum into the event regardless of dealing with a tough set of opponents in Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
His feedback come at a time when nationwide staff optimism is excessive, however expectations stay sky-high following England’s flawless qualifying marketing campaign.
In the meantime, Softfootball earlier reported that Ferdinand just lately defended Bruno Fernandes, insisting the Portuguese star stays United’s irreplaceable captain regardless of criticism surrounding the membership’s type.
With the draw now full and the countdown to 2026 formally underway, Ferdinand’s early evaluation units the tone for what guarantees to be some of the aggressive and unpredictable World Cup tournaments in historical past.
From nerves on stage to robust opinions off it, Rio Ferdinand’s voice stays as influential as ever because the soccer world prepares for North America 2026.
