President Donald Trump announced from the Oval Office on Friday that the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held on 5 December at Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Flanked by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Vice President JD Vance, Trump called the selection of the venue a “tremendous honor” and said the cultural landmark would provide a “phenomenal kickoff” to next year’s tournament. The draw will determine the 48 national teams’ group placements and match schedule for the expanded World Cup, which features 12 groups and 104 matches. Infantino said the format will make the competition feel like “104 Super Bowls.” Trump, who briefly hoisted the World Cup trophy during the announcement, did not rule out personally conducting the draw. The United States, Mexico and Canada will co-host the tournament from 11 June to 19 July 2026 in 16 cities that include New York/New Jersey, Los Angeles and Mexico City. Washington, D.C., is not among the match sites, making the draw the capital’s signature World Cup event. Trump has assumed the chairmanship of the Kennedy Center and ordered renovations ahead of December, hinting the venue could eventually be renamed the “Trump-Kennedy Center.” He projected that World Cup festivities will bring roughly six million visitors, attract six billion global viewers and generate about $30 billion in economic activity along with 185,000 U.S. jobs.