The upcoming World Cup draw in Washington DC is set to be overshadowed by the presence of Donald Trump, who has confirmed his attendance at Friday's event. The draw, hosted at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, will determine the group stage matchups for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump's involvement has raised eyebrows, particularly after his appearance at last summer's Club World Cup trophy ceremony for Chelsea. US manager Mauricio Pochettino joked that he would let Trump lift the World Cup trophy if the US won, saying, 'Maybe he’s not a soccer person... but it was funny.'
FIFA had originally planned to hold the draw in Las Vegas, as it did for the 1994 World Cup, but Trump pushed for Washington. The event will also feature a performance by the Village People, whose song 'YMCA' has been used at Trump's rallies.
Critics have noted Trump's close ties with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who recently created a 'FIFA Peace Prize' that some speculate could be awarded to Trump. However, the draw is meant to focus on football, highlighting both established powers like Spain, Argentina, France, and England, as well as first-time participants such as Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde, and Curaçao.
