Washington, August 22, 2025 (AP/Reuters/ABC Mundial) – U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage draw will take place on December 5, 2025, at the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

The announcement was made at the Oval Office, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Vice President JD Vance, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Trump emphasized that the draw marks “a phenomenal start” for what he described as “the largest and most complex sporting event in history — bigger than several Super Bowls put together.”

The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32, and will be hosted across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The final match will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Before the ceremony, Trump toured the Kennedy Center, inspecting renovation works ahead of the draw. During the event, Infantino handed Trump the World Cup trophy, noting that only “winners” such as Trump and Lionel Messi are allowed to touch it. The moment underscored the strong relationship between FIFA and the U.S. administration.

Out of the 48 national teams, 42 will already be qualified by December, while the remaining six spots will be decided in an intercontinental playoff tournament scheduled for March 2026 in North America.

The draw, scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. ET, will be broadcast worldwide, setting the stage for a historic edition of the FIFA World Cup, the first to be jointly hosted by three nations.