Trending 
The countdown to the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially begins on Friday, with the draw for the expanded 48-team tournament set to take place in Washington, DC, and US President Donald Trump expected to dominate proceedings.
The upcoming World Cup, the largest in history, will run across North America from June 11 to July 19, featuring 16 more teams than the 32 that competed in Qatar in 2022. Friday’s ceremony at the Kennedy Centre, located along the Potomac River, will be a star-studded event, but Trump is anticipated to take centre stage.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has cultivated a close relationship with Trump, revealed that the US President will be the inaugural recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw, recognising “enormous efforts to unite people and bring hope for future generations.” Trump earlier this year assumed the chairmanship of the Kennedy Centre, and hosting the draw there further cements Washington’s role in the tournament.
The ceremony will be co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and actor-comedian Kevin Hart, with performances by Village People, Andrea Bocelli, and Robbie Williams. Sporting legends such as Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Shaquille O’Neal will assist in conducting the draw.
Trump has made the World Cup a focal point of his second presidency and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. He has also threatened to move matches from Democratic-run cities if he considers local conditions unsafe. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will also attend the event. Eleven of the 16 venues are in the US, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.
Iran initially vowed to boycott the draw after the US denied visas to some of its delegation. Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj described the move as “purely political,” though Iran later confirmed it would send representatives, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
Defending champions Argentina, European champions Spain, and previous five-time winners Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium make up the top-seeded teams. The three host nations—US, Mexico, and Canada—complete the first pot. Several first-time qualifiers, including Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curacao, will also compete.
The 48-team format has been described by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter as “a monster.” Teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, advancing to the round of 32. The draw is structured to prevent the four highest-ranked nations—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—from meeting before the semi-finals, provided they top their groups.
Six places are still to be decided in playoffs, determining the bottom-seeded teams. The opening match will take place at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the tournament concluding at MetLife Stadium near New York City. Full match venues and kickoff times will only be revealed on Saturday, a day after the draw.
