The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place Friday in Washington, with US President Donald Trump expected to play a prominent role. The tournament, expanded to 48 teams, will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19 next year. Top seeds include defending champions Argentina, hosts USA, Mexico, Canada, and past winners Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, England, Portugal, Netherlands, and Belgium.
Trump’s presence highlights his close ties with FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who has visited the White House several times. The US leader may also receive FIFA’s new Peace Prize during the draw. He has made the World Cup a centerpiece of his second presidency and US 250th independence celebrations.
Read more: FIFA to unveil 2026 World Cup schedule on Saturday
Tensions have arisen as Iran announced it will boycott the draw due to visa denials for its delegation. Iranian officials called the decision political and urged FIFA to intervene. Meanwhile, Trump has warned he might move matches from Democratic-run cities if he deems conditions unsafe.
The expanded tournament allows first-time qualifiers, including Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curacao, to compete. Six playoff teams are still undecided, and favorites will want to avoid Italy, which can still qualify through sudden-death matches. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, aims for his sixth World Cup final with Portugal.
Read more: Fifa set to use VAR for corners at World Cup
The opening match will take place at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, with the final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium. Fans face high ticket prices, especially on secondary markets, with some World Cup final seats starting at $7,000. Teams will learn match venues and kickoff times a day after the draw.