In a departure from tradition, the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup transformed from a procedural football event into a lavish political spectacle, meticulously orchestrated around one central figure: former US President Donald Trump.
A Draw Crafted for an Audience of One
The event, held at Washington's Kennedy Center—a venue Mr Trump has taken to calling the "Trump Kennedy Center"—was delayed as the former president completed a walk of self-promotion. The 87-minute show before the actual draw began, presided over by Rio Ferdinand, set the tone for an afternoon where geopolitics and sport became inextricably linked.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino lavished adulation on Mr Trump, presenting him with a newly-created FIFA Peace Prize and a medal. This gesture appeared designed to counter the perceived snub from the Nobel Committee. "This is truly one of the great honours of my life," Mr Trump said from the stage, later adding, "We saved millions and millions of lives."
Football Takes a Back Seat to Political Theatre
Amid the flattery and awkward moments—including Mr Trump swatting away a question about military threats against Venezuela—the actual football draw eventually proceeded. England were handed a seemingly manageable group with Croatia, Panama, and Ghana. Scotland face a tougher path, paired with newcomers Haiti before daunting reunions with Brazil and Morocco, echoing their 1998 World Cup campaign.
The event's closing act saw eyes fixed on the presidential box for a performance of "YMCA" by the Village People, now an unlikely Trump hype act. The spectacle laid bare FIFA's unabashed political leanings, dispensing with any pretence of keeping distance from world leaders, particularly those of host nations.
Unity in Name, But a Shared Hosting Duty
While the afternoon was dominated by one man, it did briefly cede the spotlight to the other North American hosts. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney drew their nations' names, symbolising a thaw in regional tensions, often stoked by Mr Trump, in the name of football.
This draw, held on a snowy day in Washington, ultimately served FIFA's mantra that football can unite the world. However, it also demonstrated the organisation's keen instinct for realpolitik, leveraging direct access to power and ensuring the redistributed wealth of a World Cup continues to flow smoothly by aligning closely with influential political figures.
