US President Donald Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup final draw in Washington, D.C., this Friday, the White House confirmed on Monday.
The event, set to take place at the Kennedy Center, marks another major moment as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
According to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Trump views the World Cup as a central feature of his second term and a highlight of next year’s 250th anniversary of US independence.
However, the build-up to the tournament has been touched by political tension. Trump has repeatedly suggested that some World Cup games could be shifted away from certain US cities, arguing that crime and illegal migration are rising in several Democratic-run areas.
His remarks have added further debate to an already high-profile global sporting event.
With 48 teams competing, this draw is expected to shape early expectations and national morale as football’s top nations prepare for the global event.
The draw will follow FIFA’s expanded team format. The process starts with Pot 1, which features the host nations, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, along with the world’s four highest-ranked teams: Spain, Argentina, France, and England.
Teams from Pots 2, 3, and 4 will then be placed according to FIFA’s confederation rules. The top four-ranked teams have been separated to prevent early clashes, meaning they can only meet from the semifinals onward.
