Soccer tournament draws used to be quiet, almost bureaucratic events—live broadcasts where the only surprise was which team landed in which group. That changed in December 1993 in Las Vegas, when the United States hosted the draw for the 1994 World Cup. Robin Williams riffed onstage, James Brown delivered a blast of soul, and Stevie Wonder closed the show. From then on, World Cup draws weren’t just admin—they were entertainment.
Nearly 30 years later, with the tournament returning to North America, the draw has taken a new turn, this time into the territory of politics and personal branding. Originally slated for Las Vegas, the 2026 World Cup draw was moved to Washington, D.C., reportedly at the request of President Donald Trump, who preferred the nation’s capital as the venue.
What unfolded was less a celebration of global soccer than a showcase for Trump himself. He delivered a marquee speech, personally drew the United States into its tournament group, and accepted FIFA’s first-ever “Peace Prize”—a freshly created award that did not go through formal council approval and was introduced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a longtime Trump associate who has described the U.S. leader as a “winner” and friend.
“This is what we want from a leader, a leader that cares about the people,” Infantino said from the stage as he praised Trump. “You can always count on my support—on the support of the entire soccer community,” he added.
Trump, for his part, used the moment to cast himself as a global dealmaker and peacemaker, claiming his administration had defused conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine. “Gianni and I were discussing this,” Trump said. “We’ve saved millions and millions of lives.” Moments later, Infantino draped a gold medal around his neck and presented a specially commissioned trophy—an act that drew criticism from civil rights groups and even members of FIFA’s own leadership, who said the award had never been formally approved by the organization’s governing council.
The production was clearly tailored to Trump’s tastes. Andrea Bocelli, a favorite of the president who had recently visited the Oval Office, performed early in the show. The Village People, whose anthem “Y.M.C.A.” is a staple at Trump rallies, closed the ceremony. Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, and baseball slugger Aaron Judge all took turns helping to draw the tournament groups, joining Trump and other invited guests.
FIFA’s outreach to Trump didn’t end with the ceremony. Earlier this year, the organization leased office space in Trump Tower, despite already having a U.S. base in Miami. Infantino also allowed Trump to hold the World Cup trophy itself—normally reserved only for FIFA officials and champions—during a White House visit. “Can I keep it?” Trump joked at the time. “That’s a beautiful piece of gold.” Months later, after the Club World Cup concluded in New Jersey, Trump asked Infantino if he could have a replica of the redesigned trophy. Infantino agreed.
Global Stage, Narrow Spotlight
The political optics were striking. Although the 2026 World Cup is a joint effort among the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum played only bit parts at the Kennedy Center event. They appeared briefly in a group selfie onstage, offered a few short remarks at Infantino’s prompting, and otherwise had little visible role in the proceedings.
Another sensitive topic barely surfaced: immigration. As President Trump has intensified his immigration agenda following the shooting of two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., last November, concerns have grown over how his administration’s measures might affect participating teams and their delegations. The Iranian federation ultimately attended the draw after first deciding to boycott the event when several officials were denied visas. Haitian officials, for their part, told Newsweek they remain hopeful a workable solution can be found.
Trump addressed the issue only in passing, during a brief exchange with reporters on the red carpet. “We’re gonna make it easy for everyone,” he said as he walked into the Kennedy Center with Infantino.
Infantino’s role has raised questions within FIFA’s inner circles, where his close alignment with Trump is fueling unease. Murmurs spread through the hall when Infantino unexpectedly returned to the stage to announce the Peace Prize—just days after Trump failed to secure the Nobel Peace Prize, which Infantino had publicly said he believed the president “deserved.”
The reaction outside the venue was swift. In a sharply worded statement, the American Civil Liberties Union warned that by granting Trump its inaugural “Peace Prize,” FIFA risked becoming “a stage for authoritarianism.” Jamil Dakwar, director of the ACLU’s Human Rights Program, cited the administration’s expansive immigration raids, mass detentions, and deployment of National Guard units in several World Cup host cities. FIFA, he argued, should be using its leverage to challenge human rights abuses, “not to whitewash and capitulate.”
Awarding Trump a trophy, Dakwar said, “instead of a red card,” sent exactly the wrong signal.
Infantino’s Trump Dilemma
Infantino’s strategy—tying the game more closely to powerful political figures—may now be backfiring. Six international soccer officials across three continents told POLITICO that frustration is growing over his decision to align so visibly with Trump, even as White House policies complicate travel, logistics, and planning for teams, supporters, and local organizers. Those tensions sit uneasily beside Infantino’s repeated promise that the 2026 World Cup will “welcome the world.”
When Infantino arrived at FIFA in 2016, it was in the shadow of the “FIFAGate” corruption scandal: a sweeping U.S. Justice Department investigation that resulted in dozens of indictments and the downfall of longtime FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Infantino pledged to restore integrity to an organization tarnished by bribery and influence-peddling. But his tenure has also drawn criticism for his willingness to embrace leaders such as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, both of whom have used major soccer events to boost their international image.
Under Infantino, FIFA has already staged two World Cups—one in Russia and another in Qatar—both heavily criticized by human rights groups as exercises in “sportswashing.” Looking ahead, after the centennial World Cup in 2030 hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, Saudi Arabia is set to stage the 2034 tournament as a centerpiece of its Vision 2030 plan backed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In that broader context, Trump is neither the first nor likely the last head of state to see soccer as a powerful political tool. He helped secure the 2026 hosting rights during his first term and has acknowledged he didn’t expect to still be president when the tournament arrived. Yet when Infantino asked him about the symbolism of hosting a World Cup during America’s 250th anniversary next year, Trump brushed aside any deeper meaning and simply called it a “nice coincidence.”
