The White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump will attend the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in Washington on Friday.
The United States will co-host the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the event will be held at the Kennedy Centre. Trump has positioned the World Cup as a centrepiece of his second presidency and a highlight of the upcoming 250th anniversary of US independence.
However, the global sporting spectacle has become entangled in political debate. Trump raised the possibility of shifting World Cup matches away from certain US host cities. He linked this to his crackdown on what he described as crime and illegal migration in Democratic-run areas.
The announcement underscores both the scale of the World Cup and the political undertones surrounding its organisation. While fans eagerly await the draw, questions remain about whether Trump’s stance could affect the final list of host cities.
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