The 2026 men's World Cup draw will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 5, President Donald Trump announced Friday. Trump announced the news from the Oval Office, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino by his side.
In April, The Athletic reported Las Vegas was in the running to host the event, but that Washington, D.C. was also in consideration. At the time, The Athletic noted that D.C. could be chosen to make "it easier for President Donald Trump to participate extensively."
Trump did not confirm Friday he would play a role in the draw, though did hint at the possibility, per The Athletic.
“The Kennedy Center will give it a phenomenal kick-off,” Trump said at Friday’s news conference, “and we’ll be involved.”
In addition to Infantino and Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem were also present for the announcement.
During the event, Infantino and Trump exchanged pleasantries, with Trump asking if he could keep the World Cup trophy, per The Athletic.
The World Cup trophy stood on a desk in front of them, next to Trump. At one point, Infantino picked it up, handed it to Trump, and said: “This is for winners only. And since you are a winner, of course, you can (touch it) as well.”
Trump smiled, held the trophy, posed for photos, and asked: “Can I keep it?”
The Kennedy Center is a performing-arts center in Washington, D.C. The building is named after former U.S. President John F. Kennedy. It contains a concert hall, opera house, theater and many other amenities.
The World Cup draw determines the three group-stage opponents all qualified teams will face at the event. While the draw will take place in December, the 2026 World Cup won't begin until months later, on July 11, 2026.
The last time the men's World Cup took place in the U.S. was back in 1994. The draw for that event took place in Las Vegas. Brazil defeated Italy to win it all that year.
While Washington, D.C. will host the 2026 men's World Cup draw, the city is not among the host cities for the event. A total of 16 cities hold that honor. Those 16 cities are spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Eleven of those 16 host cities are located in the United States.
This story will be updated.
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