The date and location of the draw for the 2026 World Cup were unexpectedly announced on Friday. The event will take place in Washington, D.C., on December 5 at the Kennedy Center. 

US President Donald Trump announced the news on August 22 in the Oval Office alongside Vice President Jay Chao and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Although it previously appeared that the draw would take place in Las Vegas, according to reports, moving it to the nation's capital will allow Washington to remain involved, even though the matches will not be played there.

The announcement was made in the Oval Office, where Trump sat wearing a red hat with the words "Trump was right about everything" while Infantino handed him tickets and the World Cup trophy stood on the desk.

The draw is the moment when planning for next summer's event really begins, as all 16 host cities in the US, Canada, and Mexico will know which teams will be playing there. Although some preparations are already underway, especially after the Club World Cup held this summer, there are things, such as preparing for specific languages, that cannot be done until the city knows which teams will be there.

When the United States hosted the World Cup in 1994, the draw was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, but the Kennedy Center, now run by President Trump, will offer a venue where he can have a strong influence on the planning of the event. As chair of the White House task force for the 2026 World Cup, the president will play a central role in planning efforts for the World Cup, which is expected to be the most attended ever. | BGNES