President Donald Trump announced Friday that Washington’s Kennedy Center will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw on December 5, settling months of speculation about the venue for the highly anticipated ceremony that will determine group stage matchups for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Speaking from the Oval Office with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Vice President JD Vance present, Trump made the announcement with the World Cup trophy prominently displayed on the Resolute Desk. The decision marks a departure from earlier reports suggesting Las Vegas would host the draw.
Conflicting Reports Resolved
The announcement resolves conflicting reports that emerged in July. According to ESPN and other outlets, Las Vegas was expected to host the December 5 draw, potentially at The Sphere venue. However, Trump’s definitive statement places the ceremony at the Kennedy Center, which he jokingly referred to as “the Trump-Kennedy Center, but we aren’t ready to adopt that name just yet.”
“The World Cup draw will set up the group stage of competition. 48 teams will play in 104 games across 16 North American cities, from Seattle to Vancouver to Atlanta to Miami,” Trump said during Friday’s ceremony. He described the event as “one of the greatest events,” comparing individual matches to “Super Bowls, some of them are bigger than Super Bowls, actually.”
Economic Impact Projections
FIFA projects the tournament will generate substantial economic benefits for the United States. Trump cited projections of 6 million fans attending World Cup events in person, with 6 billion more watching online or on television. The tournament is expected to drive more than $30 billion into the U.S. economy and create 185,000 American jobs, according to Trump’s remarks.
The 2026 World Cup, scheduled for June 11 to July 19, 2026, will be the first to feature 48 nations and will span three host countries: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. All matches from the quarterfinals onward will take place in the United States, with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
