President Donald Trump on Friday announces that the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington. He makes the announcement alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and U.S. Vice President JD Vance during an event in the Oval Office.

The United States will co-host the tournament next year along with Canada and Mexico. The draw at the Kennedy Center will decide the groupings for the tournament and determine which teams play each other in the opening round.

Trump, who has recently taken control of the Kennedy Center, has appointed himself chair and replaced the board of trustees with loyalists. He also hints at possibly renaming the venue the Trump/Kennedy Center.

When asked if he might personally draw the team names, Trump suggests it “might not be a bad idea,” with Infantino appearing to agree, though final details have yet to be confirmed.

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In a rare move, Infantino brings the World Cup trophy to the Oval Office. Traditionally, players are warned not to touch the trophy before their team actually wins, believing it may bring bad luck. Infantino reminds Trump, “It’s for winners only,” but adds, “And, since you are a winner, of course you can as well.”

Trump lifts the trophy, commenting, “It’s pretty heavy,” later calling it “a beautiful piece of gold” and joking about keeping it on display in the Oval Office, which he has redecorated with his signature gold-hued style.

The announcement marks a key milestone for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted across North America, as anticipation builds for the tournament’s group stage.

Source: Agency