Kennedy Center to Host Historic 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw

On December 5, 2025, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., will host the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a significant milestone as the tournament expands to 48 teams for the first time. This event will not only determine the group-stage matchups for the largest World Cup in history but also introduce the inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World," highlighting football's role in promoting global unity.

The Kennedy Center, renowned for its cultural significance, has been selected as the venue for this pivotal event. President Donald Trump announced the choice on August 22, 2025, emphasizing the Center's prominence in American culture. Despite Washington, D.C., not being among the 16 host cities for the tournament, the selection of the Kennedy Center underscores the event's importance. President Trump, who has taken an active role in the event's organization, stated, "The Kennedy Center is a fitting venue to kick off this historic World Cup."

FIFA has outlined specific procedures to ensure competitive balance in the tournament:

• Top-Ranked Teams Separation: To prevent early clashes between top teams, FIFA has announced that the highest-ranked teams—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—will be placed in separate halves of the bracket. This arrangement ensures that these teams cannot meet before the semi-finals, provided they win their respective groups.

• Pot Allocations: The 48 teams will be divided into four pots based on FIFA rankings and regional considerations. Pot 1 will include the three host nations—Canada, Mexico, and the United States—alongside the top nine teams from the November 2025 FIFA Men's World Ranking. The remaining teams will be allocated to Pots 2, 3, and 4 accordingly.

• Group Formation: Twelve groups will be formed by selecting one team from each pot. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn into the same group, except for UEFA teams, which may have up to two teams per group due to the higher number of European entrants.

In conjunction with the draw, FIFA will introduce the "FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World." This annual award aims to honor individuals who have made extraordinary efforts toward promoting peace through football. The inaugural recipient will be announced during the draw event. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized the award's significance, stating, "Football stands for peace, and on behalf of the entire global football community, the FIFA Peace Prize will recognize the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations."

The Kennedy Center has announced it will receive $7.4 million to host the World Cup draw, comprising $2.4 million in direct donations from FIFA and an additional $5 million in sponsorship opportunities. This financial arrangement has attracted scrutiny from Senate Democrats regarding the Center's financial management and expenditures. President Trump, who has taken an active role in the event's organization, announced the venue selection alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Trump's involvement includes appointing Richard Grenell as President of the Kennedy Center and overseeing its board reshaping. The decision to host the draw in Washington, D.C., over other considered locations like Las Vegas, reflects the administration's influence in the event's planning.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest in history, featuring 104 matches across 16 host cities from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The final is set to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, expanding from the traditional 32-team format. The expansion aims to increase global representation and competitiveness. The draw's procedures, including the separation of top-ranked teams, are designed to maintain competitive balance, a consideration that has evolved with the tournament's expansion.

The upcoming draw at the Kennedy Center represents a significant moment in the lead-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It not only sets the stage for the tournament's matchups but also highlights football's potential to unite people worldwide. As the world anticipates this historic event, the draw serves as a reminder of the sport's enduring power to foster global unity and peace.