The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place in Washington on Friday, with United States President Donald Trump set to play a prominent part in a star-studded ceremony.
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 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four and will then have six months to prepare for the biggest sporting event on the planet.
Friday’s ceremony, which takes place at the Kennedy Center on the banks of the Potomac River from 1700 GMT, reaches far beyond football, with several of the biggest stars in the American sporting world participating while Trump takes centre stage.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has developed a close relationship with Trump, including making several visits to the White House.
Trump unveils special visas for World Cup ticket holders
Trump is 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.”
The ceremony will be co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and American actor and comedian Kevin Hart, and will feature performances by Village People, Andrea Bocelli and Robbie Williams.
NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky and former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal will be among the stars helping to conduct the draw.
Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence in 2026.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will also be in attendance at the ceremony.
11 of the 16 World Cup venues are in the United States, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.
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