“High-Stakes Politics And Historic Expansion Set The Stage For 2026 World Cup Draw In Washington”

The draw for the record-breaking 2026 World Cup — the largest edition in the tournament’s history — will be held Friday in Washington, where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to play a prominent role in the ceremony.

The expanded 48-team event, up from 32 teams in 2022, will take place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year. Trump’s presence at the Kennedy Center highlights his close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has frequently visited the White House and joined the president at international gatherings since the North American bid won hosting rights in 2018. Infantino’s ties to Trump have fueled expectations that the U.S. leader will become the inaugural recipient of a new FIFA Peace Prize, set to be awarded during the draw.

Trump has framed the World Cup as a marquee moment of both his second term and the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026. Yet he has also injected domestic politics into the event, warning he may shift matches away from Democratic-run cities if he considers them “unsafe.”

Global tensions have also surfaced. Iran announced it will boycott the draw after U.S. authorities denied visas to several members of its delegation. Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj criticized the decision as “purely political” and urged FIFA to intervene.

The draw will place the contenders — aiming to succeed defending champions Argentina — into 12 groups. Top seeds include Argentina; co-hosts USA, Mexico, and Canada; Brazil; France; Germany; Spain; England; Portugal; the Netherlands; and Belgium. Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be 41 when the tournament kicks off, has confirmed that his sixth World Cup with Portugal will be his last, hoping to finally claim the trophy that has eluded him.

The expanded field opens doors for several debutants, such as Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curaçao. Six spots remain to be decided through playoffs, with former champions Italy looming as the team most favorites hope to avoid; despite a shaky qualification run, the Italians can still reach the finals via two sudden-death matches.

The tournament will open at Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium — which hosted the finals in 1970 and 1986 — and conclude nearly six weeks later at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Teams will learn their specific venues and kickoff times only on Saturday, as scheduling complexities delay final confirmations.

Supporters’ groups warn that ticket costs may soar due to FIFA’s use of dynamic pricing. Secondary market listings in the U.S. have already surged, with seats for the July 19 final starting at roughly $7,000.