World Cup Draw Launches Countdown to 2026 Tournament as Trump Takes Centre Stage
The anticipation builds for the inaugural 48-team World Cup, with the draw for the 2026 edition unfolding on Friday in Washington, where Donald Trump is poised to capture significant spotlight.
This edition, the most intricate in terms of organisation ever, will span North America from June 11 to July 19, incorporating 16 additional teams beyond the 32 that competed in Qatar back in 2022.
The event on Friday, hosted at the Kennedy Center along the Potomac River, promises a glamorous gathering, yet Trump remains the focal point.
FIFA leader Gianni Infantino has cultivated a strong bond with Trump, marked by multiple White House visits.
The current US President is anticipated to become the initial honouree of the FIFA Peace Prize, presented at the draw, "to honour the substantial contributions of those who bring people together and inspire hope for coming generations," according to Infantino.
The selection of the venue subtly references Trump, who this year assumed the role of chairman at the Kennedy Center, a renowned arts facility established in the early 1970s.
Conducting the draw there allows the US capital to contribute meaningfully to the World Cup, despite not hosting any matches.
The proceedings will be led by supermodel Heidi Klum and US entertainer Kevin Hart, featuring acts from Village People, Andrea Bocelli, and Robbie Williams.
Icons such as NFL star Tom Brady, hockey great Wayne Gretzky, and ex-NBA powerhouse Shaquille ONeal will assist in executing the draw.
Trump has positioned the World Cup as a key highlight of his second term and the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence.
Nevertheless, he has openly woven in local politics, warning of relocating matches from cities governed by Democrats should safety concerns arise.
"I would contact Gianni, the FIFA chief, who is outstanding, and suggest shifting it elsewhere, and he would agree," Trump remarked lately.
Attendees will include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Out of the 16 venues, eleven lie in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
Iran U-turn
Political tensions influenced the draw, prompting Iran to initially threaten a boycott over the US denying visas to parts of its team.
Iranian Football Federation head Mehdi Taj labelled the US stance as "entirely political". However, Iran confirmed on Wednesday its decision to proceed with sending delegates, including national team coach Amir Ghalenoei.
Lionel Messis Argentina hold the title as defending champions, securing their third World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022.
They join elite seeds alongside European title holders Spain, five-time champions Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The trio of host countries rounds out the top pot.
Expanding the event has paved the way for debut participants like Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curacao.
Monster
Not all approve however, with ex-FIFA president Sepp Blatter calling the 48-team setup "the monster has been set loose" in a CBS discussion.
Squads will divide into 12 groups of four, advancing the top two per group plus the eight strongest third places to the knockout stage of 32.
For the first instance, the draw ensures the four leading ranked teams stay separated, meaning Spain, Argentina, France, and England cannot clash prior to the semi-finals, assuming they all lead their groups.
Six slots remain open via playoffs, with victors entering as lower seeds, so powerhouses will seek to evade teams like Italy, 2006 winners who missed the past two editions.
The tournament opener occurs at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, extending over almost six weeks to conclude at MetLife Stadium near New York City.
Due to its elaborate nature, squads receive complete venue and schedule information on Saturday, following the Friday draw.