President Donald Trump has officially announced that the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place on December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Flanked by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Vice President J.D. Vance during a briefing in the Oval Office, Trump hailed the upcoming tournament as “probably the biggest event in sports,” echoing Infantino’s comparison of the expanded World Cup to hosting “104 Super Bowls.”
The 2026 edition of the tournament will be the first to feature 48 national teams, up from the previous 32, with a total of 104 matches scheduled across 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Match venues range from Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, although Washington, D.C., while hosting the draw, will not stage any games.
Asked whether he might take part in conducting the draw, Trump responded, “That’s very interesting,” before deferring the decision to Infantino. “He’s the boss,” the president said with a smile.
Trump also emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of the high-profile event, citing expanded security measures that will include deployments of the National Guard and coordination with federal law enforcement agencies to protect attendees and officials.
The World Cup draw is expected to set the stage for what organizers anticipate will be the most widely attended and watched edition of the tournament in history. Preparations are ongoing across all host cities, with security, infrastructure, and promotional efforts accelerating as the December draw approaches.
