US President Donald Trump wears a ‘Trump Was Proper About Every part!’ hat whereas holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy, as he makes an announcement on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, within the Oval Workplace on the White Home in Washington, DC, US, August 22, 2025. — Reuters
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has revealed that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will happen in Washington this December.
Standing alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino on the White Home, Trump described the event as “probably the biggest event in sports” and even joked about wanting to maintain the golden trophy for himself.
The announcement confirmed that the Kennedy Middle within the US capital will host the ceremony on December 5.
The draw for the 48-team soccer championship shall be held on the Kennedy Middle within the US capital, the place Trump lately put in himself as chairman in what he referred to as a struggle on “woke” tradition.
“It’s the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports,” Trump, flanked by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, stated as he made the announcement within the Oval Workplace of the White Home.
The 2026 World Cup is being hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico subsequent 12 months, and Trump has made an enormous deal about it taking place throughout his presidency.
Infantino, who has fostered shut ties with the billionaire US president, introduced the World Cup with him for the announcement and even let Trump get his palms on it.
“Only the FIFA president, presidents of countries, and then those who win can touch it, because it’s for winners only. And since you are a winner, of course you can as well touch it,” Infantino stated.
“Can I keep it?” replied Trump, who received a second time period within the White Home final 12 months, as he lifted the trophy with each palms.
“That’s a beautiful piece of gold.”
Trump seemed to be joking — though the separate FIFA Membership World Cup trophy stays within the Oval Workplace greater than a month after English aspect Chelsea received it in New Jersey final month.
Putin ‘may be coming and he may not’
There was a short second of nerves as Trump appeared to fumble the World Cup earlier than inserting it on his desk — as Infantino reached out a hand to regular it.
Infantino later introduced the US chief with a large ticket — Row 1 Seat 1 — for the World Cup closing on July 19 on the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, simply exterior New York.
Trump additionally instructed that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attend the World Cup.
Holding up a photograph that he stated Putin had despatched him after their summit in Alaska final week, Trump stated the Kremlin chief “wants to be there very badly,” however that he “may be coming and he may not” relying on the end result of Ukraine peace efforts.
America was named as a joint host of the 2026 World Cup throughout Trump’s first time period as president in 2018. He misplaced the 2020 election to Joe Biden however received a second time period final 12 months.
Since his return to energy, Trump has launched a significant crackdown on immigration, however he stated it could be “very easy” for many World Cup followers to get a visa.
For guests from some international locations, it could be “obviously a little bit more difficult,” stated Trump, who has banned all travellers from 12 nations together with Afghanistan, Haiti and Iran.
‘Trump-Kennedy Center’
The World Cup draw was reportedly resulting from be held in Las Vegas however the brand new venue has extra political overtones.
Trump led a takeover of the Kennedy Middle earlier this 12 months, saying that the venerable performing arts venue named after late Democratic president John F. Kennedy had turn into too “woke.”
He added on Friday as he made the announcement that “some people refer to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center, but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet, maybe in a week or so.”
Trump visited the Kennedy Middle simply earlier than the Oval Workplace announcement on Friday. He has stated he’s going to make main enhancements to “beautify” it, together with including marble cladding.
The US president additionally hailed a significant federal crime crackdown in Washington that has seen US Nationwide Guard troops deployed on the streets of the capital.
Trump stated the transfer would make Washington secure for soccer followers visiting town throughout subsequent 12 months’s event.
