WASHINGTON: The road to the first-ever 48-team World Cup officially kicks off on Friday with the draw for the 2026 tournament, and much of the spotlight is expected to fall on US President Donald Trump.
A Bigger, More Complicated World Cup:
The 2026 World Cup — the most complex edition in history — will be played across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19. This time, 48 teams will compete instead of the 32 that played in Qatar in 2022.
Friday’s draw ceremony will be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington — a location closely linked to Trump, who took over as chairman of the venue earlier this year. Since Washington was not selected as a match host city, the draw gives it a chance to be part of the World Cup action.
Trump Expected to Receive FIFA Peace Prize:
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has built a strong relationship with Trump over the years. Infantino has visited the White House multiple times, and now Trump is expected to become the first-ever recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize. The award, according to Infantino, honours people who “unite others and inspire hope for future generations.”
The star-studded ceremony will be hosted by Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, with performances from Village People, Andrea Bocelli, and Robbie Williams. Sports legends, including Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Shaquille O’Neal, will assist in conducting the draw.
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Politics Mixed With Football:
Trump has made the World Cup a key event during his second term and a highlight of America’s 250th Independence Day anniversary celebrations. However, he has also stirred controversy by warning that he may move matches away from certain “unsafe” cities governed by Democrats.
“I would call Gianni, the head of FIFA… and I’d say let’s move it. And he would do that,” Trump said recently.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum are also set to attend the ceremony.
Iran Reverses Boycott After Visa Issue:
A political twist emerged when Iran initially announced it would boycott the draw after the US denied visas to some of its officials. Iran called the move “purely political.” However, the country later changed its decision and confirmed it would send its delegation, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei.
Top Seeds and Newcomers:
Reigning champions Argentina will be among the top seeds, along with Spain, Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the three host nations.
The expanded format has opened doors for several debut teams such as Cape Verde, Curacao, and Jordan. Not everyone is pleased with the expansion, though — former FIFA president Sepp Blatter called the 48-team format a “monster.”
How the Draw Works:
The 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-placed teams, will move into the last 32.
For the first time, the four highest-ranked teams — Spain, Argentina, France, and England — will be kept apart and cannot face each other before the semi-finals, as long as they all top their groups.
Six teams still have to qualify through playoffs, and favourites will be aiming to avoid facing Italy — the 2006 champions — who missed the last two World Cups but remain dangerous opponents.
Opening and Final Matches:
The tournament will begin with the opening match at the historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. After nearly six weeks of football across North America, the final will be played at MetLife Stadium near New York City.
Because of the tournament’s huge scale, teams will only learn their exact match venues and kickoff times a day after the draw.
