Overview
- Friday’s ceremony at the Kennedy Center begins at noon ET, with President Donald Trump, Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Mark Carney among attendees.
- The revamped seeding keeps Spain, Argentina, France and England on separate routes until the semifinals if each wins its group.
- Forty-two nations have qualified; six berths will be decided in March via UEFA and intercontinental playoffs, leaving placeholders in Pot 4 for today’s draw.
- The hosts are pre-assigned as Mexico A1, Canada B1 and USA D1; the opening match is set for June 11 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca and the final for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
- FIFA will present its inaugural Peace Prize during the show, which multiple outlets report Trump is expected to receive, alongside a celebrity lineup including Heidi Klum, Kevin Hart, Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams and the Village People.