Canadian hockey icon Wayne Gretzky found himself in an unexpected spotlight for his linguistic skills, or lack thereof, during one of soccer's most prestigious events. The Hall of Famer's attempt to announce nations at the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in Washington, D.C., on Friday, December 5, 2025, descended into a series of pronunciation blunders that quickly went viral.
A Legendary Panel Trips on Geography
Gretzky was part of a star-studded quartet of sports legends assisting with the official draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He shared the stage with American football great Tom Brady, basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal, and baseball slugger Aaron Judge. Their task was straightforward: draw and announce the names of countries qualifying for the expanded 2026 tournament.
However, for the man nicknamed 'The Great One', the simple act of reading country names from cards proved surprisingly challenging. The international audience, both in the hall and watching live broadcasts, quickly noticed a pattern of errors as Gretzky worked through the pots.
The Pronunciation Hall of Shame
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), lit up with clips and commentary as each misstep occurred. The errors were not minor slips but significant alterations to the names of sovereign states.
Jordan was announced as "Jor-dan," with a hard 'J' and emphasis on the first syllable, rather than the correct "jore-don." The nation of North Macedonia became "mack-a-donia," losing the soft 's' sound of "mass-a-donia."
The Caribbean island of Curaçao was perhaps the most glaring error, pronounced as "kur-a-ko" instead of the proper "kur-uh-sau." Gretzky also stumbled over Türkiye—the country's official name since 2022—saying "tur-kia" rather than "tyur-key-yeh." Further casualties included Suriname and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Online Roast and Canadian Embarrassment
The reaction from viewers and fans was swift and merciless. One social media user wrote, "Wayne Gretzky announcing the countries for the World Cup Groups is incredible. The names he has destroyed..." Another expressed disbelief: "Wayne Gretzky really pronounced Jordan of all countries like THAT, with an imaginary accent?!"
The tone turned sharper from some Canadians, linking the gaffe to Gretzky's previous public controversies. "He was already an embarrassment with his ties to Trump but watching Gretzky butcher nearly every country's name on that stage is an even greater embarrassment as a Canadian. Revoke his citizenship," one critic stated.
Others focused on the sheer awkwardness of the live television moment. "Can someone help Gretzky pronounce the names of countries in the draw? My secondhand embarrassment is of the highest order. Yikes," a user humorously chimed in.
A Legacy Beyond the Ice
The article notes that this linguistic stumble places Gretzky in a peculiar pop culture category, comparing him to Simpsons character Ralph Wiggum, famously known for his malapropisms and confused statements. The incident adds a new, unflattering layer to Gretzky's post-retirement public persona, which has recently been scrutinized for his political associations.
Despite the fumble, the draw itself proceeded, setting the stage for the 2026 World Cup. For Canadian soccer fans, the event carried significant weight beyond the celebrity mishaps. Canada's men's national team learned its first-round fate, landing in a group with host nation Qatar, Switzerland, and the winner of a European playoff path. This placement offers a potentially favorable route for Canada to advance in the tournament it will co-host with the United States and Mexico.
While Gretzky's hockey legacy remains untouchable, his foray into global soccer ceremony will be remembered for all the wrong reasons—a brief, cringe-worthy moment where the world's most famous hockey player met the world's most famous sporting tournament, with awkward results.
