FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump and world leaders take center stage at World Cup draw in DC
Trump arrives at the FIFA World Cup draw
News’ Bill Melugin interviews President Donald Trump ahead of the FIFA World Cup about how he will handle concerns about crime in cities scheduled to host games in 2026.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino was front and center at the highly anticipated World Cup draw in Washington, DC, on Friday afternoon.
Infantino took the stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts alongside President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The photo session brought together the head of the sport’s international governing body with the leaders of the three host countries for next year’s World Cup.
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U.S. President Donald Trump poses for a selfie with FIFA President Gianni Infantino on stage during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Emilee Chinn – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Trump, whom Infantino has described as a “close friend,” also received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize about 30 minutes after Friday’s special event began.
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FIFA announced the new award in November and said it would be awarded annually. The award was created “to reward people who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and, in doing so, have united people around the world,” the organization said in a news release.
US President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC (Emilee Chinn/FIFA via Getty Images)
The draw divided a record 48 teams into 12 groups of four. However, six spots remain up for grabs until March, when 22 teams will meet in the playoffs. Canada and Mexico have been assigned the first round matches. Toronto has been chosen as the host city for the first Canadian match, while the continent’s largest city in terms of population, Mexico City, will host the Mexicans’ inaugural match.
The tournament will then move to the US, with the semi-finals taking place in Atlanta and Arlington, Texas. The final will be played in the New York City area at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
From left to right; FIFA President Gianni Infantino takes a selfie with President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (Chris Carlson/AP Photo)
Seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and NBA great Shaquille O’Neal were among the high-profile sports stars participating in the event.
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Argentina and Lionel Messi will begin their World Cup title defense against Algeria, while the United States will debut on Friday against Paraguay as the quadrennial soccer championship returns to North America for the first time since 1994.
The News contributed to this report.
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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for News Digital.