The United States capital, Washington D.C., will on Friday host one of the most anticipated events ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as President Donald Trump takes a leading role in a star-studded draw ceremony marking the beginning of the first-ever 48-team tournament.

The draw, scheduled for 1700 GMT at the prestigious Kennedy Center, will determine the group-stage pairings for what FIFA has described as the most logistically demanding World Cup in history.

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The expanded tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Trump to Receive Inaugural FIFA Peace Prize

President Trump is set to be the central figure at the ceremony, where he will become the first recipient of the newly introduced FIFA Peace Prize.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has built a close relationship with Trump through several visits to the White House, said the honour was created to recognise “individuals who unite people and bring hope for future generations.”

The U.S. leader has made the 2026 World Cup a flagship project of his second term and a key highlight of America’s upcoming 250th Independence anniversary.

However, his involvement has not been without controversy, as he recently threatened to relocate matches from cities governed by Democrats if he considers public safety insufficient.

The ceremony will feature prominent global figures in sports and entertainment.

Supermodel Heidi Klum and comedian Kevin Hart will co-host the event, while musical performances from the Village People, Robbie Williams, and Andrea Bocelli will electrify the audience.

Sports icons including NFL legend Tom Brady, NHL great Wayne Gretzky, and former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal are also expected to join the draw as guest assistants.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will attend, representing their countries as co-hosts of the expanded tournament.

Tournament Kick-Off and Venues

Sixteen cities across North America will stage the 104-match event 11 in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada.

The opening match will hold at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, while the grand finale is scheduled for the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Reigning champions Argentina, led by Lionel Messi who will turn 39 during the tournament are among the top seeds. Messi recently reiterated his desire to participate, saying, “I’d love to be there.”

Other top-seeded nations include Spain, Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The three host nations complete the first pot.

The expansion has also paved the way for several debut nations such as Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curaçao.

Under the new 48-team structure, countries will be split into 12 groups of four.

The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the round of 32.

For the first time, FIFA will ensure that the four highest-ranked nations Argentina, Spain, France, and England cannot meet until the semi-final stage, provided they win their groups.

Six final tournament slots remain undecided and will be filled through playoff matches, with Italy seen as the most dangerous unseeded nation in the draw.

Teams are expected to receive their full match schedules including venues and kick-off times on Saturday, a day after the draw.