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President Donald Trump praised the success of the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, DC on Friday, where he was honored with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize at the event, which was set to pave the way for the global sporting event to come to the United States next year.
Ahead of a private concert by Andrea Bocelli at the White House, the president thanked the Italian tenor for his opening performance at the Kennedy Center. Trump also noted the success of the draw, claiming more than “a billion people” tuned in to watch the participating nations learn their fate for the tournament, which begins in June.
United States President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC (Emilee Chinn/FIFA via Getty Images)
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“He was so good today at the FIFA award,” Trump began, talking about Bocelli. “It was an award for me, I can tell you. But it was a draw. And they say over a billion people watched and there was no way you could beat tonight what you did today because it was one of the biggest openings to an event I’ve ever seen. And he was in rare form.”
“What you did this morning was incredible, thank you so much.”
Singer Andrea Bocelli performs at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, District of Columbia, on December 5, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP)
The private White House concert was attended by Republican lawmakers and members of Trump’s cabinet.
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The evening followed a day filled with high-profile stars, sports legends and world leaders in DC for the WC draw.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Trump on stage to draw their respective nations’ names as the three countries prepare to host the international tournament next year.
President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino address members of the media during their arrival at the Kennedy Center for the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw. The event took place in Washington, District of Columbia, on December 5, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino also presented Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, which recognized the president for his actions to “promote peace and unity around the world.”
“This is really one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said, adding that “most importantly, I just want to thank everyone. The world is a safer place now.”
