Washington: US President Donald Trump has revealed that the draw for the World Cup in 2026 will take place in Washington in December.
Trump, who stood with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino in the White House, described the tournament as “probably the biggest event in sports” and even joked about wanting to keep the Golden Trophy for himself.
The announcement confirmed that the Kennedy Center in the US capital will host the ceremony on December 5th.
A draw for the 48 -team football championship is held at the Kennedy Center in the US capital, where Trump recently installed himself as chairman of what he called a war on “woke” culture.
“It’s the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports,” said Trump, flanked by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino when he announced the announcement in the Oval Office of the White House.
The World Cup in 2026 will host the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, and Trump has made a great deal that it will happen during his presidency.
Infantino, who has created close ties with the billionaire US president, brought the World Cup with him to the message and even lets Trump get his hands on it.
“Only the FIFA president, presidents of countries, and then those who win it can touch it because it’s only for winners. And since you’re a winner, you might as well touch it,” Infantino said.
“Can I keep it?” replied Trump, who won another period in the White House last year as he lifted the trophy with both hands.
“It’s a beautiful piece of gold.”
Trump looked to joke – though the separate FIFA Club World Cup Trophy stays in the Oval Office more than a month after the English page Chelsea won it in New Jersey last month.
Putin ‘may come and he might not be’
There was a brief moment of nerves when Trump seemed to fumble the World Cup before placing it on his desk – when Infantino handed a hand to stabilize it.
Infantino later presented the American leader with a huge ticket – row 1 seat 1 – to the World Cup final on July 19 at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York.
Trump also suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be attending the World Cup.
By holding a photo he said Putin had sent him after their Alaska summit last week, Trump said the Kremlin chief “will be there very bad” but that he “can come and he may not” depend on the outcome of Ukraine Peace Efforts.
The United States was named a joint host of the World Cup in 2026 during Trump’s first term as president in 2018. He lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden, but won another period last year.
Since his return to power, Trump has launched a major crash on immigration, but he said it would be “very easy” for most world championship fans to get a visa.
For visitors from some countries, it would be “obviously a little more difficult,” said Trump, who has banned all travelers from 12 nations, including Afghanistan, Haiti and Iran.
‘Trump-Kennedy Center’
The World Cup was reportedly due to being held in Las Vegas, but the new place has several political overtones.
Trump led a takeover of the Kennedy Center earlier this year and said that the honorable performing arts place, named after the late Democratic President John F. Kennedy, had become too “woke up.”
He added Friday when he announced that “some people refer to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center, but we are not prepared to do it yet, maybe in a week or so.”
Trump visited the Kennedy Center just before the Oval Office message on Friday. He has said he will make great improvements to “beautify” it, including the addition of marble clothing.
The US president also paid tribute to a major federal crime in the crime in Washington, who has seen the US National Guard troops deployed on the streets of the capital.
Trump said the move would make Washington safe for football fans visiting the city during next year’s tournament.
