The FIFA 2026 World Cup draw took place on Friday evening - with Gianni Infantino putting on a spectacle in Washington DC - but that didn't go down well with many, including BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce.
18:24, 05 Dec 2025Updated 19:08, 05 Dec 2025
BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce repeatedly laid into FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the 2026 World Cup draw, claiming; "The man knows no shame". It came during a draw that was filled with spectacles and performances while the process itself took a backseat.
The World Cup draw was scheduled for 5pm (GMT) but, after an hour, only the USA, Mexico, and Canada had been drawn out of the pot, as the three host nations. Infantino took to the stage several times, first welcoming everyone to the draw and setting the scene for the 48-team draw.
He then welcomed several acts on to the stage, as musical performances kicked off the night, while many legends of the games were spoken to in the crowd. There was also time for the new FIFA peace prize, an award and medal that was handed out to US president Donald Trump.
It was a spectacle that enamoured some, but some fans were left far from pleased with how long the draw was taking to complete. There were also some remarks from commentator Jonathan Pearce, who laid into Infantino on several occasions during the event.
In one such instance, he said: "The man knows no shame," as the FIFA president played host to the early moments in the event. That included a moment where he took a selfie with the leaders of the USA, Mexico, and Canada, who were all on stage to draw their nations of of the pot.
It was a cringeworthy display for fans, not least at one moment where he tried to get some fan engagement, imploring spectators to chant USA, Mexico, or Canada. The length of the draw also got sniped at - with Pearce stating: "Hopefully the draw will be finished in time for the first match in June."
After one hour and 20 minutes, the draw setup finally got underway, as Kevin Hart welcomed out the likes of Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Shaquille O'Neal, and Aaron Judge. Pearce appeared to enjoy the introduction of these stars a little more, laughing when O'Neal towered over Hart.
In the end, the draw was finally made, with England being drawn into Group L, where they will play in Dallas or Toronto for their first match. That puts them in Brazil's half of the knockout bracket while, if they win the group, they will take on a third-placed team in the round of 32.
England were then drawn against Croatia from pot two, in yet another meeting between the two nations. The Three Lions met them back during the 2018 World Cup, where they fell to defeat in the semi-final under Gareth Southgate. They were then drawn against Panama in pot three and Ghana in pot four, confirming their draw.
Thomas Tuchel will be keen to keep up the form that his squad showed at the qualification stage, where they won all eight games without conceding a goal. "I'm not sure if I know our starting XI yet - but I know players I'm certain I want to have with us in the US," the England boss told BBC Sport before the draw.
"I know also there are some players who are very likely to start, but let's take it step by step. It's my job to get to know the players, have a picture, an opinion, and then pick them and stick with them because they did so well to earn my trust. I have a clear idea."
With the possibility of winning a first World Cup since 1966, Tuchel revealed his confidence, as he said: "We've got closer, we've got better. For my belief, I needed those national camps in September, October, November, and the way the camps, the results and the group went together.
"Since then, our belief - mine and the group together - grew, and we will arrive to make a special thing happen. We cannot guarantee it, of course, but we will arrive with the biggest goal."