On Friday, August 22, 2025, President Donald Trump welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the Oval Office, where they announced that the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on December 5. The event is expected to be broadcast live to an estimated one billion viewers globally and will determine the match schedule for the 48 participating teams across 16 North American cities.

During the announcement, Infantino presented Trump with the official FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy. As Trump held the trophy, he jokingly asked Infantino, "Can I keep it?" before adding, "We're not giving it back". Infantino responded that only the FIFA President, Presidents of countries, and winners of the World Cup are allowed to touch the trophy. He noted that Lionel Messi was the last person to lift the trophy. Trump then suggested placing the trophy on the wall in the Oval Office.

Trump also received the first ticket to the World Cup final from Infantino. Trump highlighted his administration's efforts to improve safety in Washington, D.C., and assured that visa processes for international visitors would be streamlined for the event. He also addressed various other topics, including tariffs, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and border security measures.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Trump stated that the event is projected to have 6 million attendees and a $30 billion economic impact, creating 185,000 American jobs. Tickets are scheduled to go on sale September 10.

Trump also referenced his personal interest in renovating the Kennedy Center, including painting the columns "a very good white, beautiful white" and "renovating" the marble. He also alluded to renaming the center, saying, "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".