Trump arrives at the FIFA World Cup draw
Pakinomist’ Bill Melugin interviews President Donald Trump ahead of the FIFA World Cup draw on how to deal with crime concerns in 2026 host cities.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino was front and center at the highly anticipated World Cup draw event in Washington, DC on Friday afternoon.
Infantino took the stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts alongside President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The photo shoot brought the head of the sport’s international governing body together with the leaders of the three host countries for next year’s World Cup.
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US President Donald Trump poses for a selfie with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on stage during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Emilee Chinn – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Trump, whom Infantino has described as a “close friend,” was also awarded FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize about 30 minutes after Friday’s special event began.
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FIFA announced the new award in November and said it would be presented annually. The award was created “to reward individuals who have taken extraordinary and extraordinary actions for peace and, in doing so, have united people around the world,” the organization said in a press release.
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)
The draw shared a record 48 teams in 12 groups of four. However, there are still six World Cup places up for grabs until March, when 22 teams will meet in the playoffs. Canada and Mexico have been awarded the early games. Toronto has been chosen as the host city for the Canadian opening match, while the continent’s largest city by population – Mexico City – will be the venue for Mexico’s opening match.
The tournament will then shift to the United States, with the semifinals taking place in Atlanta and Arlington, Texas. The finals will be played in the New York City area at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
From the left; FIFA President Gianni Infantino takes a selfie with President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Chris Carlson/AP Photo)
Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and NBA great Shaquille O’Neal were among the high-profile sports stars who attended the event.
Argentina and Lionel Messi begin their World Cup title defense against Algeria, while the United States were drawn to open against Paraguay on Friday as soccer’s quadrennial championship returns to North America for the first time since 1994.
