Heidi Klumโ to Host World Cup draw, Marking Return to the Event After Two Decades
WASHINGTON D.C. – Supermodel Heidi Klum will host the draw for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup,โค set to be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Klum, who was involved in a similar event in herโ home country twenty years ago,โ expressed her excitement, stating: “Having been involved in this showโ twenty years ago in my home country, it isโ something very special to now โhost the draw again. The World Cup unites the worldโค like nothingโ else,and it is indeed an โunbelievable honor toโฃ be โpart of this magic again – this time on anโ even โคbigger stage with three host countries and 48 teams.”
The draw takes place as the German national team, led by โคcoach Julian Nagelsmann, prepares forโฃ the tournament. Nagelsmann is โคcurrently in Washington D.C. โฃwith German Football Association (DFB) president Bernd Neuendorf and sports director Rudi Vรถller. “The World Cupโข has seemed a little further away so far – and not just geographically. With the draw, when we certainly know our opponents โคand venues, it is indeed noticeably closer,” โขNagelsmann said prior to the event at the john F. Kennedy Center for the Performing โArts.
Germany is ranked ninth in the world and will benefit from being placed in Pot 1, shielding โฃthem fromโ facing the top-ranked teams – Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, the USA,โค Mexico, and Canada -โค during the group stage. Though, potential challenges await in subsequent pots, including robust teams like Colombiaโฃ and Uruguay (Pot 2), Erling Haaland’s Norway (Pot 3), and perhaps Italy (Pot โ4), depending on playoff qualification.
FIFA will also announce the venues for all 72 group games on Saturday at 6 p.m. Nagelsmann โขwill remain โคin the U.S. to scout potential team headquarters. โฃHe acknowledged the logistical challenges for โboth the team and its fans, expressing โขrecognition for their โplanned support.
Germany will โhave โa key dress rehearsal against the USAโ on June 6th at Soldier Field in Chicago,โฃ following a May 31st test match against Finland in Mainz. โThe teamโ will travel to Chicago to acclimatize.
