President Trump to Attend FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw in Washington, D.C. This Friday

The White House has officially confirmed that President Donald J. Trump will attend and partially preside over the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw this Friday, December 5, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The announcement, made Monday by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, elevates what was already a highly anticipated sporting event into a major diplomatic and political spectacle.

“This is a priority national project coinciding with America’s 250th birthday,” Leavitt told reporters. “President Trump is proud to welcome the world to the United States for the biggest World Cup in history.”

Friday’s ceremony will determine the 48-team group stage for the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It will be the first World Cup with 48 nations and the first co-hosted by three countries.

Sources close to FIFA and the White House say FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to personally award President Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the event, recognizing his role in securing the North American bid in 2018 and his continued support for the tournament. The two leaders have maintained a close relationship, with Infantino visiting Trump in the Oval Office as recently as August 2025, when the official draw date and logo were unveiled.

The draw itself will be complex: 12 groups of four teams, 104 total matches, and a new 32-team knockout bracket after the group stage. Host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada are already seeded into Groups A, B, and C respectively, with powerhouses Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, England, Germany, Portugal, and Belgium filling the top pots. Six remaining spots will be decided in March playoffs, meaning some groups will include placeholder teams for now.

The full 104-match schedule, complete with venues and kickoff times, will be released Saturday morning, December 6, due to the unprecedented logistical challenge of staging games across three countries and 11 time zones.

However, the glitz comes with controversy.

President Trump has repeatedly warned that matches could be moved from “Democrat-run cities” if he believes security is inadequate, a threat that would require FIFA’s approval and could trigger massive contractual penalties. Several blue-state mayors have already pushed back, calling the statements “political blackmail.”

Iran’s Football Federation announced Tuesday it will boycott the draw entirely, citing ongoing U.S. visa restrictions on its delegation as “politically motivated discrimination.” The move escalates tensions ahead of a tournament Trump has branded “the greatest World Cup ever.”

Ticket prices are also making headlines. FIFA’s dynamic-pricing model has driven secondary-market costs through the roof: the cheapest available ticket for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey currently starts at $7,200, with premium seats exceeding $25,000. Fans and supporters’ groups have launched petitions demanding price caps.

Global leaders are expected in the Kennedy Center audience Friday night. Invitations have reportedly gone out to heads of state from all 48 qualified nations, plus high-profile figures including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Argentine President Javier Milei. The White House has not confirmed the guest list, citing security protocols.

The draw will air live on FOX, Telemundo, and FIFA+ starting at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday, with red-carpet arrivals beginning at 6:00 p.m. Over 2,500 media credentials have been issued, the largest ever for a World Cup draw.

For American soccer fans, Friday represents more than groups and matchups; it’s the moment the 2026 World Cup finally becomes real. For the Trump White House, it’s a global stage just seven months before the 2026 midterms.

One thing is certain: when the balls start spinning under the Kennedy Center chandeliers, the eyes of the world, and the political world, will be watching Washington like never before.