LOS ANGELES — As the world watched the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw unfold live on Friday, the road to North America was paved with LA Galaxy connections—from the broadcast booth to the newly drawn groups that will shape the fates of current stars.
Galaxy legend Cobi Jones, part of FOX Sports’ draw coverage, saw the tournament map reveal compelling paths for the club's present-day internationals, including iconic former captain Maya Yoshida and recently called-up winger Joseph Paintsil.
The stage is set. Who triumphs? 🏆@aramco | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/21qBVC6KlE
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2025
Cobi Jones Sets the Stage from Broadcast Booth
As the draw determined the fates of 48 nations, Galaxy legend Cobi Jones provided expert analysis for FOX Sports.
His presence bridged the club’s foundational role in American soccer with the impending global spectacle, emphasizing Los Angeles's central place in 2026’s landscape.
Jones will be permanently honored at Dignity Health Sports Park with a statue unveiling in Legends Plaza the same year.
Paintsil’s Ghana Faces "Group L" Gauntlet
Fresh off a pair of recent call-ups, Galaxy speedster Joseph Paintsil now knows the monumental task ahead.
His Ghana side was placed into the daunting Group L, a bracket likely to be dubbed the tournament's "group of death" with England and Croatia—the 2018 finalists—alongside CONCACAF contender Panama. Paintsil’s dynamism on the wing will be a key asset for the Black Stars against elite European opposition.
Yoshida’s Japan Lands in Group F
While he hasn’t featured recently for Japan, Maya Yoshida remains the defining captain of his generation for the Samurai Blue. Yoshida made a brief on-camera cameo as he was interviewed during the draw.
Former Samurai Blue captain Maya Yoshida pic.twitter.com/9EFs1IWeqB
— Sanfrecce Hiroshima EN unofficial ⭐️⭐️⭐️🏆🏆🆕 (@threearrowsSFC) December 5, 2025
Yoshida's home nation was drawn into an intriguing Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia, and the UEFA playoff winner (Albania, Poland, Sweden or Ukraine). The former captain has not featured for the Samurai Blue since the loss to Croatia in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup.
Los Angeles awaits its moment in the limelight
The draw solidifies Los Angeles as an epicenter of soccer in 2026.
SoFi Stadium will host multiple matches, including a semifinal, while Dignity Health Sports Park will serve as a team base camp, among other locations across Southern California.
The Galaxy’s role—from alumni likely featuring for the United States (Group D) and Canada (Group B) to its deep ties with Mexico (Group A)—will be hard to miss.
With the draw now concluded, the countdown to the World Cup has accelerated. Time will tell which current and former Galaxy players find themselves in the spotlight next Summer.
