mm-news-@dmin Washington: The 2026 World Cup draw will be held in Washington this December, according to US President Donald Trump.
Trump, who was standing at the White House with FIFA director Gianni Infantino, called the competition “probably the biggest event in sports” and even made a joke about wanting to take the golden trophy for himself.
The notification affirmed that the ceremony will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in the US capital.
The US capital’s Kennedy Center, where Trump recently appointed himself chairman in what he described as a battle on “woke” culture, will host the 48-team football championship draw.
With FIFA CEO Gianni Infantino at his side, Trump declared in the White House Oval Office that “it’s the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports.”
During his presidency, Trump has made a huge deal out of the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting the 2026 World Cup next year.
The wealthy US president and Infantino have developed a tight relationship. Infantino brought the World Cup to the event and even allowed Trump to handle it.
Because it’s just for winners, only the FIFA president, national presidents, and the winners themselves are allowed to touch it. And of course you may touch it since you won,” Infantino remarked.
Trump, who won a second term in the White House last year, raised the trophy with both hands and asked, “Can I keep it?”
“What a lovely piece of gold.”
Although the distinct FIFA Club World Cup trophy is still in the Oval Office over a month after English team Chelsea won it in New Jersey last month, Trump seemed to be kidding.
Putin “may or may not be coming.”
During a brief moment of nervousness, Infantino reached out to steady the World Cup as Trump seemed to fumble it before setting it on his desk.
A huge ticket, numbered Row 1 Seat 1, for the World Cup final on July 19 at the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside of New York, was later given to the US leader by Infantino.
Trump also hinted that Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, would go to the World Cup.
The Kremlin leader “wants to be there very badly,” but he “may be coming and he may not” depending on the outcome of Ukraine peace efforts, Trump remarked, holding up a photo he claimed Putin sent him following their summit in Alaska last week.
Trump’s first term as president began in 2018 when the United States was announced as a joint host of the 2026 World Cup. Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 race, but he was elected to a second term last year.
Trump said it would be “very easy” for the majority of World Cup supporters to obtain a visa, despite his significant immigration enforcement since taking office again.
Trump, who has barred all travelers from 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iran, stated that it would be “obviously a little bit more difficult” for visitors from certain of those countries.
“The Kennedy-Trump Center”
According to reports, Las Vegas was supposed to host the World Cup draw, but the new location has more political undertones.
The Kennedy Center, a prestigious performing arts center named for the late Democratic president John F. Kennedy, was taken over by Trump earlier this year, claiming it had grown too “woke.”
“Some people refer to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center, but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet, maybe in a week or so,” he added Friday when he made the news.
Before Friday’s statement from the Oval Office, Trump paid a visit to the Kennedy Center. He has stated that in order to “beautify” it, he will undertake significant changes, such as installing marble cladding.
The US president also praised the deployment of US National Guard troops on the streets of the nation’s capital as part of a significant federal crime campaign in Washington.
According to Trump, the action would make Washington a safer place for football fans to visit during the tournament the following year.
