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World Cup 2026 Draw Set for Washington as FIFA Tweaks Ticketing and Security Questions Persist

A high-profile Washington draw proceeds under scrutiny of visas, pricing, policing.

Overview

  • Friday’s draw at the Kennedy Center will reveal the 12 groups, with President Donald Trump expected to attend and a celebrity program hosted by Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart.
  • FIFA confirmed ringfenced allocations for supporters of participating teams at fixed prices—8% of seats per match—while other tickets use demand-based pricing and an official resale platform charging 15% to buyers and 15% to sellers.
  • Ticket prices range from roughly $60 for group matches to about $6,730 for the final, with a random‑selection sales window opening December 11 after the draw.
  • White House representative Andrew Giuliani said visa processing for fans is being expedited but would not rule out potential ICE raids during the tournament.
  • FIFA will present a new annual Peace Prize during the ceremony, the full match schedule (venues and kick-off times) will follow on Saturday, and six remaining berths will be decided in March playoffs for the expanded 48‑team, 104‑match event across the U.S., Mexico and Canada.