World Cup 2026: A Grand Draw with Trump as Guest Star
The draw for the 2026 World Cup, taking place on Friday at 12:00 PM Washington time (6:00 PM Paris time and 9:00 PM in Mauritius), is set to be a spectacular event for this extraordinary tournament hosted across three countries (United States, Mexico, Canada), featuring Donald Trump as the main attraction.
For nearly two hours, a grand show will unfold at the Kennedy Center, a prestigious performance hall located in the U.S. capital, to determine the path for the 48 teams competing to succeed Lionel Messi's Argentina.
The event will feature performances by artists from diverse musical backgrounds, including Andrea Bocelli, the Village People, Robbie Williams, and Nicole Scherzinger. Hosted by former German model Heidi Klum and comedian Kevin Hart, a major star in the U.S., this grand ceremony is expected to set the tone for a competition like no other.
However, the highlight of the evening will undoubtedly be the presence of the American president himself. The billionaire Republican, who returned to the White House in January, has made the World Cup a central event of his second term, despite concerns regarding his various statements about his Mexican and Canadian neighbors, his immigration policy, and his threats to deny matches to certain cities led by Democrats.
Trump has found a powerful ally in FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with whom he has been publicly close. The Italian-Swiss leader, who attended Trump’s inauguration and has been invited several times to the Oval Office, understands the necessity of aligning with the U.S. president, as 78 out of the 104 matches scheduled from June 11 to July 19 will take place in the United States, including the final at MetLife Stadium (New Jersey).
- Peace Prize -
This “bromance,” carefully maintained by the two men for mutual strategic interests, is expected to peak on Friday, with Trump reportedly set to receive the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. This would serve as a consolation prize on a global stage for the American leader, who boasts about having ended several conflicts since regaining power and openly dreams of winning the Nobel Peace Prize, which this year was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
"Football works towards peace, and on behalf of the great football community, the FIFA Peace Prize will recognize the tremendous efforts of individuals who unite people and bring hope to future generations," Gianni Infantino declared emphatically on November 5 during the announcement of this award in Miami, in front of... Donald Trump.
Due to co-hosting responsibilities, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have confirmed their attendance and will meet with Donald Trump during the ceremony, despite significant tensions over tariffs imposed by the American president, who has also reiterated his desire to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
Even Iran, which has had broken diplomatic relations with the U.S. since 1980, will ultimately send a small delegation led by coach Amir Ghalenoei, after initially stating it would boycott the ceremony due to visa issues affecting several officials.
- New Features -
From a sporting perspective, the stakes are high for the coaches of the 42 qualified countries, who will be joined in March by six playoff teams, bringing the total number of participants to 48, a first in World Cup history.
Following the draw, conducted by several North American sports legends such as Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, and Wayne Gretzky, the composition of the 12 groups of four and the matchups for the first round will be revealed, but fans will have to wait until Saturday to find out the venues and times of the matches.
A new feature introduced by FIFA aims to "ensure the best conditions possible for all teams and spectators while allowing, as much as possible, fans worldwide to watch their teams play live despite different time zones."
Another innovation is that the top four FIFA-ranked nations (Spain, Argentina, the defending champions, France, and England) will be placed in different sections of the bracket and cannot face each other until the semifinals if they finish at the top of their groups, to ensure "competitive balance," according to the international federation.
AFP