Peace medal and YMCA Trump steals the show at World Cup draw
He received a gold medal. He made an appearance reminiscent of a game show alongside international leaders. And he danced to YMCA.
The FIFA 2026 World Cup draw was meant to focus on football, yet it revolved entirely around Donald Trump.
The US president, once a reality TV personality, captured everyones attention from the instant he walked the red carpet at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Closely accompanying him was Gianni Infantino, the head of global soccer, who has built strong connections with Trump over his time in office and kept the US leader in the limelight throughout.
Trump is no stranger to grand gestures, but even he seemed momentarily speechless when, following a polished video announcing him as the first recipient of FIFAs new Peace Prize, Infantino praised his accomplishments effusively.
"Mr President, this is your prize. This is your peace prize," he declared, then added with a laugh: "There is also a fine medal for you that you can wear wherever you like."
Trump immediately hung the medal around his neck. "I am going to wear it right now," he announced.
Three allies
It was a masterful display of praise from Infantino, who has drawn flak for his associations with various authoritarian figures, tapping into Trumps frustration over not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize just under two months prior.
The honour persists amid backlash from human rights organisations, which argue it ignores Trumps strict immigration stance, his deployment of troops to multiple US cities, and his military expansion close to Venezuela.
Trump encountered ridicule regarding the award from Gavin Newsoms office, the Democratic governor of California and potential 2028 presidential hopeful, who shared an image of a childs medal featuring a cheerful star stating: "If you had fun, you won! PARTICIPATION."
Yet Trump remained undeterred. He even pondered rechristening American football to prevent mix-ups with the sport highlighted on Friday, called soccer in the US but football elsewhere.
Even stranger developments lay ahead.
Infantino called Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to the stage as representatives of the three North American countries jointly hosting the event.
Their joint presence was promoted as a display of sportsmanship diplomacy against the backdrop of disputes involving Trumps tariffs, his idea to absorb Canada, and his notions of US military actions against supposed drug cartels in Mexico.
This is astonishing
Rather, it resembled a television quiz programme. The leaders positioned themselves at desks in vibrant colours and unveiled balls containing the initial letters of the teams participating in the draw.
The Canadian leader picked Canada. Mexicos president selected Mexico.
However, attention centred on just one figure. "I believe I can predict what this will be," Trump remarked to chuckles from the audience. "This is astonishing," he commented while displaying a piece of paper reading USA.
Afterwards, they took a selfie with Infantino, who shared it on Instagram captioned: "Football unites the world."
Trump was scheduled to depart after an hour, but he seemed so engaged that he lingered in the venue for another hour as the draw concluded, conversing with Carney and Sheinbaum.
He extended his stay further. The Village People performed on stage with his favoured song, "Y.M.C.A."
Similar to numerous 2024 campaign events, Trump stood up and performed his distinctive dance. Sheinbaum and Carney stayed in their seats.
Nonetheless, the trio convened privately later for discussions to resolve their disagreements.
Trump wrapped up his attendance with a visit to the Kennedy Center, where he appointed himself chairman this year in his campaign against "woke" culture.
On Thursday, Trump had dubbed it the "Trump-Kennedy Center," then said: "Whoops, excuse me."