Washington D.C. hosts the highly anticipated 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, mapping the path to glory for contenders in the first-ever 48-team finals. The star-studded ceremony at the Kennedy Center will feature numerous American sporting legends, but President Donald Trump will play a prominent, center-stage part.
This expanded tournament, the most logistically complex World Cup in history, will unfold across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from 11 June to 19 July.
Politics and the Peace Prize
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has cultivated a close relationship with Trump, having visited the White House multiple times during the tournament’s planning stages. Consequently, the US President is expected to become the inaugural recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw ceremony.
Infantino stated the award aims “to recognize the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations.” Nevertheless, Trump has injected domestic politics into the preparations, specifically threatening to relocate World Cup matches from Democratic-run cities if he deems hosting conditions “unsafe.” He recently boasted about his influence, declaring, “I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, let’s move it to another location. And he would do that.”
Draw Details and the Expanded Field
Supermodel Heidi Klum and comedian Kevin Hart will co-host the elaborate draw, which includes performances by the Village People, Robbie Williams, and Andrea Bocelli. Furthermore, iconic sports figures like NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, and former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal will assist with conducting the draw proceedings.
Reigning champions Argentina, alongside Spain, Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium, headline the top seeds, joined by the three host nations. The tournament expansion clears the way for several first-time qualifiers such as Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curacao, a “natural evolution,” according to FIFA’s Arsene Wenger.
Meanwhile, Argentinian maestro Lionel Messi, who turns 39 during the tournament, remains hopeful about his own participation. He told ESPN this week, “I hope I can be there. I’ve said before that I’d love to be there.” Teams will learn the complex match venues and kick-off times on Saturday, the day after the draw.
