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The draw for the 2026 World Cup took place in Washington on Saturday morning AEDT, with US President Donald Trump playing a prominent part in a star-studded ceremony that will map the path to glory for contenders at the first ever 48-team finals.
Before the draw began at the Kennedy Center, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who has built a close relationship with Trump, awarded the US president FIFA’s inaugural peace prize.
FIFA has stated that the award is meant to “acknowledge the significant efforts of individuals who bring people together and inspire hope for the future generations.”
A video prior to the presentation celebrated Trump for resolving the war in Gaza and trying to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The trophy, a gold-plated globe carried by upraised hands, was considerably larger than the Nobel, which is just a simple medal.
He took a moment to congratulate himself. The United States, he said, was “not doing too well” before he took office, but now “we’re the hottest country anywhere in the world.”
Earlier, Trump told reporters he did not care about the prize, but noted that he had “settled eight wars” in his 10 months in office.
“I don’t require awards. My priority is saving lives,” remarked Trump. “I’ve saved countless lives, and continuing to do so is my primary goal.”
The most logistically complex World Cup in history will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July, with 16 more teams added to the global showpiece, up from the 32 nations involved in Qatar in 2022.
The draw was co-hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and American actor and comedian Kevin Hart, and featured performances by the Village People, Robbie Williams and Andrea Bocelli.
Among the notable figures assisting with the draw were NFL legend Tom Brady, ice hockey great Wayne Gretzky, and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.
The draw saw participation from sports icons such as NFL’s Tom Brady, ice hockey’s Wayne Gretzky, and ex-NBA player Shaquille O’Neal. Source: AP / Alex Brandon
Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.
But he has injected domestic politics into the preparations, threatening to move World Cup matches from Democratic-run cities if he deems conditions “unsafe”.
“I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA, who’s phenomenal, and I would say, let’s move it to another location. And he would do that,” Trump said recently.
Eleven of the 16 World Cup venues are in the United States, with three in Mexico and two in Canada.
The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will host the opening game and the final will take place at the MetLife Stadium outside New York City.
