The FIFA 2026 World Cup draw took place on Friday evening, with Gianni Infantino putting on a spectacle in Washington DC, but it didn’t go down well with many, including BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce.
BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce repeatedly laid into FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the 2026 World Cup draw, claiming that “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 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 stage, as musical performances kicked off the night, while several 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 American President Donald Trump.
READ MORE: World Cup draw LIVE: England and Scotland discover opponents as Donald Trump wins awardREAD MORE: What is the FIFA Peace Prize and why is Donald Trump likely to win it?
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.
