Overview
- At the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw at Washington’s Kennedy Center on December 5, Village People ended the ceremony with a live performance of “Y.M.C.A.”.
- President Donald Trump stood and did the song’s signature moves during the performance, a scene captured on widely shared video that also shows Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, nearby.
- During the same event, FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented Trump with the organization’s first “FIFA Peace Award,” a new honor that coverage described as contentious.
- The disco hit has been a staple at Trump rallies for years, with crowds at times adapting the chorus to chant “MAGA,” according to prior reporting cited by the outlets.
- Co-writer and original singer Victor Willis, who previously objected to the song’s political use before later softening his stance, said after the draw that he did not write “Y.M.C.A.” as a gay anthem.