US President Donald Trump has announced that Washington will host the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this December. Appearing alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House, Trump hailed the tournament as “the biggest event in sports” and even joked about keeping the glittering World Cup trophy for himself.

The ceremony has been scheduled for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in the US capital, which will stage the draw for the expanded 48-team championship.

Trump, who recently positioned himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center as part of what he described as a pushback against “woke” culture, said hosting the event in Washington was a moment of pride.

“The World Cup is the biggest probably the single biggest sporting event anywhere,” Trump declared, flanked by Infantino in the Oval Office.

The 2026 edition of the tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with Trump repeatedly highlighting its significance during his presidency.

Infantino, who has built a close rapport with the US leader, carried the trophy with him for the announcement — and allowed Trump the chance to briefly hold it.

“Only the FIFA president, presidents of countries, and then those who win can touch it, because it’s for winners only. And since you are a winner, of course you can as well touch it,” Infantino said.

“Can I keep it?” replied Trump, who won a second term in the White House last year, as he lifted the trophy with both hands.

“That’s a beautiful piece of gold.”

Trump appeared to be joking although the separate FIFA Club World Cup trophy remains in the Oval Office more than a month after English side Chelsea won it in New Jersey last month.

Putin ‘may be coming and he may not’

There was a brief moment of nerves as Trump appeared to fumble the World Cup before placing it on his desk — as Infantino reached out a hand to steady it.

Infantino later presented the US leader with a giant ticket Row 1 Seat 1 for the World Cup final on July 19 at the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just outside New York.

Trump also suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may attend the World Cup.

Holding up a photo that he said Putin had sent him after their summit in Alaska last week, Trump said the Kremlin chief “wants to be there very badly,” but that he “may be coming and he may not” depending on the outcome of Ukraine peace efforts.

The United States was named as a joint host of the 2026 World Cup during Trump’s first term as president in 2018. He lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden but won a second term last year.

Since his return to power, Trump has launched a major crackdown on immigration, but he said it would be “very easy” for most World Cup fans to get a visa.

For visitors from some countries, it would be “obviously a little bit more difficult,” said Trump, who has banned all travellers from 12 nations including Afghanistan, Haiti and Iran.