World football governing body FIFA have announced an array of stars who will participate in the Final Draw for the 2018 World Cup in Moscow on 1 December.
Big-name ex-footballers Laurent Blanc, Gordon Banks, Cafu, Fabio Cannavaro, Diego Forlan, Diego Maradona and Carles Puyol will be assisting draw conductor Gary Lineker, who will also be supported by Maria Komandnaya, at Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace, FIFA announced on their website on Tuesday.
According to FIFA, the draw assistants, together with trophy bearer Miroslav Klose, will represent the eight FIFA World Cup-winning nations. The eighth draw assistant is Russian football legend Nikita Simonyan.
“The Final Draw is an exciting moment for all of us football fans for obvious reasons. But it is also a magical one because it allows us to look ahead to the big emotions that await us during the World Cup while also bringing the spotlight to those who have made history,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.
“It is a great line-up and I am delighted to have FIFA Legends from all of the former World Cup winning countries represented in the Final Draw show.”
A combined 13 different finals of the World Cup will be represented with the presence of the eight draw assistants in Moscow. Of the group, 91-year-old Nikita Simonyan represented his country at Sweden 1958, while Forlan played for Uruguay at the most recent tournament, Brazil 2014.
“It has been almost 20 years since my unforgettable World Cup experience, and taking part in the Final Draw is an incredible way of feeling closer to the excitement of that tournament again,” said France legend Blanc, who tasted success at the global finals on home soil in 1998.
Cafu, who played at four World Cups with Brazil, won twice and was also a draw assistant four years ago, said:. “The Final Draw is a magical moment when the whole planet joins in enthusiasm and expectation, so it makes me happy to be a part of that once again.
“I was fortunate enough to come to Russia several times over the course of this World Cup cycle and I am quite certain that the country will deliver yet another fantastic event in Moscow.”
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Draw Assistants
Laurent Blanc
Gordon Banks
Cafu
Fabio Cannavaro
Diego Forlan
Diego Maradona
Carles Puyol
Nikita Simonyan
COMMENTS
no African Ex Player
It’s a shame! So Okocha, Roger Milla, Eto, Weah, Drogba or Kanu are not fit to be part of this ceremony?
No any Africa ex legend on these list
Wao, even the great hand of god and drug adict was not left out？what a world cup Russia 2018 would be .
Racial Fifa？Not even an African Legend is invited？Shame to so called World football rulers still manifesting their Racial prejudice inhibited in their blood stream -SHAME TO FIFA .
What of CAF, I think they supposed to be our mouthpiece?
Legends like Okocha,Odegbami,KANU,Eto,Roger Miller,Rufai Abdi Pele are all there there no see them
George weah
George weah is now a president of Liberia
This are the reason Africa and Asia are not recognise in World Cup
No African
HMMM FIFA DON’T KNOW ANY AFRICA EX- PLAYER
wow, fabio cannavaro 2006 world cup winner.
fabio cannavaro of italy, 2006 world best player.
Why no African?
Oloriburuku Fifa, una wan robb africans again abi… Una don call all ojoro legend cum arrange una pple for beta group stage ba? #fuck_fifa #GOD_IS_GREATER_THAN_YOU
It’s not just only Africa, The same issue goes with Asia, From the looks of things World Cup is for Europe and Americans
Hmm. Here we go again. When FIFA is doing this to Africans and Asians, so it means that only Americans and Europeans would play at the world cup? this shows that we are nothing to them. Hopefully, an African team will go far at the world cup. What a shame. God will surprise you in a great way FIFA. Remembered Atlanta 96 Olympic game? In sha Allah, Nigeria will win the 2018 world cup. God bless Nigeria!!!
You guys got it all wrong! Apart from the Russians in the list (because they are hosts), the others are from countries that have won the World Cup before. That’s the principle. Let us Nigerians stop finding faults in every move that does not favour us.
It’s not a FIFA principle. The World Cup draw is not only an exclusive club of past winners. The point has to be made that there’s no excuse and nothing in FIFA statutes to support a divisive culture
You mean that Diego Forlan has won the world cup before or that he is a Russian? I need an answer please.
caf have to do some thing about this
Haba Nigerians! Do we read articles well before commenting? Those picked are from countries that have won the world cup.
Diego Forlan is from Uruguay former world champions
@paschal try and get valid details when you are lost on something, Diego forlan is from Uruguay, incase u dont know Uruguay was the first nation to lift a FIFA world cup title and the did it back to back.
Oh take it easy my brother we are not fighting. Tone down your language. Thanks a lot for the correction. I appreciate it.
for ya’ll claiming that FIFA is being racially discriminatory, can you please go through the article vividly before jumping on the comment box. The basis for such selection is that your country must have won the world cup in the past. No Africa or Asia legend was name cos the world cup trophy has neither gone to one of these nations. The selection was done on merit.
Make una pray make 9ja win the trophy next year so that dem go select Okocha next time!!
Thank you jare. Just read this article and was surprised with the way most of us were reacting. Wetin? Let’s learn to read in between the lines. FIFA this FIFA that! Pray Nigeria wins the world cup and all the recognition you need will be accorded to you. Choi! Na wa o.
No African Legend included in the FIFA 2018 World Cup draw. It’s a pity. Shame on you FIFA .