A special moment unfolded at the White House in Washington. FIFA President Gianni Infantino met with U.S. President Donald Trump. During the meeting, the date of the World Cup draw was announced. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time in football history, three nations will co-host the biggest tournament.
In the Oval Office, Infantino presented Trump with the official 2026 World Cup trophy. While handing it over, the FIFA president jokingly said, “This is only for winners. You are a winner, so you can touch it. The trophy is heavy. The last person to lift it was Lionel Messi, the 2022 champion.”
Holding the trophy, Trump couldn’t resist making a joke of his own: “Can I keep this? I don’t think I’m going to give it back.” Pointing to a spot in the office, he added, “I could display it right there!”
Infantino then handed Trump the very first ticket for the 2026 World Cup. The ticket read “Front row, first seat.” Another special detail was the number printed on it—45/47—a nod to Trump’s unique status as both the 45th and 47th President of the United States.
The upcoming tournament is set to be the biggest World Cup in history. For the first time, 48 teams will participate, and matches will be played across 16 cities. The competition will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The draw will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington on December 5 this year.
At the White House ceremony, Trump was joined by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary Kristi Noem. Wearing a red cap, Trump had written on it: “Trump was right about everything.”
The excitement for the FIFA World Cup has already begun. Trump was asked if he would announce the teams’ names at the draw ceremony. He did not give a direct answer but, pointing to Infantino, said that he was the “boss.” Infantino responded by calling it a “very intriguing proposal” and hinted that he would discuss it with Trump later.
Infantino remarked, “This draw ceremony will be broadcast live worldwide. At least one billion people will watch it.” Trump described the event as “the biggest in the history of sports.”
