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Washington to host 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, Trump announces

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Washington to host 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, Trump announces


US President Donald Trump wears a ‘Trump Was Right About Everything!’ hat while holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy, as he makes an announcement on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, August 22, 2025. — Reuters

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has revealed that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place in Washington this December. 

Standing alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino at the White House, Trump described the tournament as “probably the biggest event in sports” and even joked about wanting to keep the golden trophy for himself. 

The announcement confirmed that the Kennedy Center in the US capital will host the ceremony on December 5.

The draw for the 48-team football championship will be held at the Kennedy Center in the US capital, where Trump recently installed himself as chairman in what he called a war on “woke” culture.

“It’s the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports,” Trump, flanked by FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, said as he made the announcement in the Oval Office of the White House.

The 2026 World Cup is being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico next year, and Trump has made a big deal about it happening during his presidency.

Infantino, who has fostered close ties with the billionaire US president, brought the World Cup with him for the announcement and even let Trump get his hands on 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.

‘Trump-Kennedy Center’ 

The World Cup draw was reportedly due to be held in Las Vegas but the new venue has more political overtones.

Trump led a takeover of the Kennedy Center earlier this year, saying that the venerable performing arts venue named after late Democratic president John F. Kennedy had become too “woke.”

He added on Friday as he made the announcement that “some people refer to it as the Trump-Kennedy Center, but we’re not prepared to do that quite yet, maybe in a week or so.”

Trump visited the Kennedy Center just before the Oval Office announcement on Friday. He has said he is going to make major improvements to “beautify” it, including adding marble cladding.

The US president also hailed a major federal crime crackdown in Washington that has seen US National Guard troops deployed on the streets of the capital.

Trump said the move would make Washington safe for football fans visiting the city during next year’s tournament.





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Sabrina Carpenter hoping to make her dream come true: Source

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Sabrina Carpenter hoping to make her dream come true: Source


Photo: Sabrina Carpenter eagerly waiting for her big screen moment: Source

Sabrina Carpenter reportedly is eyeing a role in the next Mamma Mia movie.

According to Star Magazine, the 26-year-old pop sensation, secretly has been hoping to join the hit ABBA-inspired franchise. 

“Sabrina’s been obsessed with ABBA since she was a little girl,” tipped a source. 

They went on to address, “So it’s no exaggeration to say this would be a dream come true for her.” 

For those unversed, The Espresso hitmaker has already brought her ABBA love to the stage, performing classics such as Dancing Queen during her set while opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour.

However, the insider noted that while Carpenter “really wants” the part, she’s managing her expectations. 

“She’s trying not to get ahead of herself. She’s trusting that if it’s meant for her, it will happen.”

Whether or not she lands Mamma Mia, Hollywood seems ready to give Carpenter her big-screen moment. 

“She’s definitely going to be on the big screen soon because Hollywood is very interested,” the source added. 

“She’s already proven she can act, but she’s not resting on her laurels; she’s been studying with a great coach.”

Producer Judy Craymer even weighed in on the idea, telling Deadline in May that Carpenter “would be a goddess or some relation who would look very much like Meryl Streep” if she were to join the beloved franchise.





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Matthew Rhys opens up about his struggle for ‘The Beast in Me’

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Matthew Rhys opens up about his struggle for ‘The Beast in Me’


Matthew Rhys shares how he fought to be cast in ‘The Beast in Me’

Matthew Rhys recently revealed he had to convince The Beast in Me team that he could pull off being creepy.

In a talk with Entertainment Weekly, the 50-year-old Welsh actor admitted when he read the script of Netflix’s show, The Beast in Me, he thought the role of Nile Jarvis, a real estate tycoon suspected of killing his wife, was out of his reach.

Sharing his thoughts, Rhys said, “I read it and I was like, ‘I won’t get this. People don’t come to me for this.’ I have these Celtic eyes. I do downtrodden well, I don’t do megalomaniac or sociopath.”

Moreover, the show’s creator, Howard Gordon, went on to offer his thoughts on The Edge of Love star’s audition, noting he could not get a chance to depict a role of sociopath or megalomaniac before.

“He brought something else to it. He’s so charming and funny and charismatic. But he is scary,” Gordon confessed.

“I had to persuade them that I can be creepy,” Rhys quipped and added with a joke that he ‘parked outside’ cast member Claire Danes’ residence to prove his point, saying, “That seemed to do it.”

For the unversed, in The Beast in Me, Danes plays Aggie Wiggs, an author who cannot write after her young son’s death. When Nile moves in next door and wants a running path, Wiggs argues with him, until she thinks he might be the “perfect subject” for her next book.

It is pertinent to mention that The Beast in Me is slated to be released on November 13, 2025.





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Denise Richards faces ultimate rejection from Heather Locklear

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Denise Richards faces ultimate rejection from Heather Locklear


Denise Richards’ desperate attempt for peace with Heather Locklear ends in vain 

Denise Richards was reportedly snubbed by ex-friend Heather Locklear as she tried to make peace amid explosive divorce drama with husband Aaron Phypers.

For the unversed, the 54-year-old American actress has been trying to make peace with her former friend Heather Locklear while her divorce fight with estranged husband Phypers got worse.

According to Radar Online, Locklear is still upset that Richards “hooked up” with her ex Richie Sambora years ago.

“Denise has been trying to get in touch, but she’s not getting anywhere, because Locklear has a long memory,” a source said.

Notably, after the end of the Wild Things star’s first marriage with Charlie Sheen, she had a “hot-and-heavy romance” with Locklear’s estranged husband, Sambora, a musician, songwriter and singer by profession. It began soon after the Dynasty star filed for divorce in 2206.

“Heather had separated from Richie, and she and Denise were hanging out and hitting up nightclubs to let off some steam, but then Denise backstabbed her by taking up with Richie. Heather felt betrayed,” the insider said.

Richards is now going through a bitter divorce from Phypers after accusing him of “years of abuse,” leaking her most private pictures, and stealing her laptop. He still demands her spousal support because of his unemployment.

However, Locklear “is not trying to get pleasure from Denise’s misery right now, but there is a part of her that says this is a classic case of karma biting Denise in the butt,” per the source.

“In Heather’s view, Denise is reaping what she sows in terms of how she’s treated people. Heather won’t be holding any pity parties for Denise anytime soon,” the source claimed.





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