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.
