TRUMP TO DOMINATE WORLD CUP DRAW

US President expected to be honoured with FIFA Peace Prize at star-studded ceremony

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The countdown to the first 48-team World Cup begins in earnest on Dec 5, as the draw for the 2026 Finals takes place in Washington with United States President Donald Trump set to dominate much of the attention.

The most logistically complex World Cup in history will be held across North America from June 11 to July 19, with 16 more teams added to the global showpiece, up from the 32 nations involved in Qatar in 2022.

The Dec 5 ceremony, at the Kennedy Center on the banks of the Potomac River, will be a star-studded event, but Mr Trump will take centre stage.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has developed a close relationship with the US President, including making several visits to the White House.

Mr Trump is widely expected to be the first-ever recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize, which will be awarded during the draw ceremony “to recognise the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations” as Infantino put it.

Even the choice of draw venue is a nod to Mr Trump, who earlier in 2025 installed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center, a performing arts venue opened in the early 1970s.

Holding the draw there also means the US capital gets to play an active role in the World Cup itself, having been overlooked as a match venue.