- Web Desk
- Jan 09, 2026
Trump says Kennedy Center to host 2026 World Cup draw on Dec 5
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- Reuters
- Aug 22, 2025
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will announce on Friday that Washington’s John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington will host the 2026 World Cup draw, a source familiar with the plans said.
Trump foreshadowed the news earlier Friday, when he announced that the 2026 World Cup would have an office at the premier arts venue located in the heart of the nation’s capital.
“The World Cup’s going to have its primary office in the Kennedy Center,” Trump told reporters in Washington.
World Cup 2026: Draw
— U San Aung Htun (@usanaunghtun) August 22, 2025
POTUS & FIFA President Gianni Infantino announce World Cup 2026 matches (group, R32, R16, QF, SF & F) to be drawn at Kennedy Center in DC.
Infantino gifts POTUS Donald J Trump a very first ticket for the Final.
For Public, tickets sale will open on… pic.twitter.com/3CtzUUm1tq
Trump’s announcement comes as he oversees a $257 million renovation at the Kennedy Center, which Trump has said will be a centerpiece of the 250th US anniversary celebrations next year.
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The 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico will be the first with 48 teams and will feature 104 matches.
Canada will host 13 games, including 10 in the group stage split evenly between Toronto and Vancouver.
Mexico will also get 13 games, including 10 during the group stage in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
The rest of tournament will be held in 11 cities across the United States.
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FIFA, global soccer’s governing body, has already put boots on the ground in the United States in preparation for the quadrennial spectacle having set up field offices in Miami and at New York’s Trump Tower.
FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers
The following is a list of teams that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
| Team | Status | Best performance |
| UNITED STATES | Taking part as hosts | Third place (1930) |
| MEXICO | Taking part as hosts | Quarter-finals (1970, 1986) |
| CANADA | Taking part as hosts | Group stage (1986, 2022) |
| JAPAN | Qualified on March 20 | Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) |
| NEW ZEALAND | Qualified on March 24 | Group stage (1982, 2010) |
| IRAN | Qualified on March 25 | Stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) |
| ARGENTINA | Qualified on March 25 | Winners (1978, 1986, 2022) |
| UZBEKISTAN | Qualified on June 5 | Never previously qualified |
| SOUTH KOREA | Qualified on June 5 | Fourth place (2002) |
| JORDAN | Qualified on June 5 | Never previously qualified |
| BRAZIL | Qualified on June 11 | Five-times winners |
| ECUADOR | Qualified on June 11 | Second straight qualification |
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