All eyes will be on Washington on Friday as the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place, with United States President Donald Trump set to take centre stage at what promises to be one of the most glamorous draw ceremonies in football history.
The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, is the biggest World Cup ever organised, with the number of participating teams rising from 32 in Qatar 2022 to 48.
The draw event begins at 5 p.m. GMT at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and will feature a long list of American sporting and entertainment superstars. Trump, who has maintained a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, is expected to receive the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, an award meant to honour individuals whose efforts help unite people and inspire future generations.
Supermodel Heidi Klum and comedian Kevin Hart will co-host the ceremony, which will also feature performances from Robbie Williams, Andrea Bocelli, and the Village People. Sporting icons including Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, and Wayne Gretzky will assist with the draw.
Trump has been heavily involved in the World Cup preparations, branding the tournament a major milestone of his second term and a key highlight of America’s 250th Independence Anniversary celebrations next year. However, he has courted controversy by warning that matches could be moved away from Democrat-run cities if he considers them “unsafe”.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum will also attend the ceremony.
The 2026 World Cup will be spread across 16 venues with 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The opening match will be played at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, while the final is scheduled for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
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