Trump revealed: “Putin told me he would like to be there,” but the Russian leader’s presence will depend on peace negotiations with Ukraine.
Donald Trump wanted to give maximum visibility to the 2026 World Cup, which the United States will host together with Canada and Mexico. On Friday, inside the Oval Office of the White House, alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the U.S. president announced that the official group stage draw will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, renamed for the occasion the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”
“It’s a great honor,” Trump said, “to bring this extraordinary event to the heart of the capital. It will be the biggest sporting event in history: every match will be like a Super Bowl.” Figures released by the White House estimate an economic impact of $30 billion and about 6 million fans expected across the 16 North American host cities.
“Can I keep the Cup? It would look great on that wall…”
Adding to the celebratory mood, Infantino handed Trump the first ticket for the final, which will be played in New York, and invited him to “touch” the World Cup trophy—a privilege usually reserved only for tournament winners, the FIFA president, and the head of state of the reigning champion nation. “It doesn’t usually happen,” Infantino explained, “but since you are a winner, you can touch it.” Trump, smiling, replied: “Can I keep it? It would look great on that wall.”
The meeting turned into a symbolic political showcase, with the American president recalling his efforts to tie the White House to the World Cup: from attending the Club World Cup final to promoting the Kennedy Center as a hub for sports and cultural celebrations.
“Putin would really love to be there…”
There was no shortage of jokes about the geopolitical context. Trump said that Vladimir Putin, during their recent meeting in Alaska, had confided his desire to attend the tournament. “He would really love to be there,” Trump said, “but it will depend on the progress of peace talks with Ukraine.”
The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams and 104 matches, an unprecedented format that will make the event even more monumental. And the prologue, with Trump and Infantino together in the Oval Office, has already provided a glimpse of the political and media weight the tournament will carry in the United States.
