Trump–Infantino Alliance Moves 2026 World Cup Draw to Washington

Overview

• The World Cup draw is set for Dec. 5 at Washington’s Kennedy Center after an agreement reached by President Donald Trump and FIFA’s Gianni Infantino during July’s Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium.
• Las Vegas had been widely expected to host the draw, but planning shifted to the U.S. capital as talks intensified, according to White House FIFA task force director Andrew Giuliani.
• Infantino presented Trump with a gold replica World Cup trophy at an Aug. 22 Oval Office meeting, and a White House official says the trophy remains in White House custody.
• Some soccer officials described the trophy handover as a break with tradition because the symbol is regarded as belonging to the sport, not an individual, according to AP reporting.
• Infantino’s outreach to co-host leaders has been uneven, with his first meeting with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Aug. 29 and no 2025 meeting with Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney reported.