World Cup draw ceremony underway as FIFA awards peace prize to Trump

The draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

A record 48 teams will take part in this summer’s tournament.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U.S. President Donald Trump, and President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico are attending the event.

Intriguing matchup in Group C

Morocco was one of the stories of the last World Cup by becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals.

Its first game in next year’s tournament will be Brazil.

Possible knockout clash

Longtime rivals France and Germany – who played a famous semifinal in 1982 – could meet as early as the round of 16 this time, should each win its group.

France was drawn into Group I, with Germany in Group E.

Brazil drawn into Group C

Brazil was the first team drawn from the pot of top seeds and goes into Group C — an East Coast pool where the five-time champion’s first two games could be in Foxborough.

The detailed schedule will be announced Saturday.

FIFA awards peace prize to Trump

The 2026 World Cup draw began Friday with FIFA awarding its first peace prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has campaigned to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gave Trump a large gold-colored trophy and a gold-colored medal hanging from a blue ribbon, which Trump hung around his neck. Standing next to Trump, Infantino lavished praise.

“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said.

There was a wintry feel as snow fell outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with 189 days to go before the expanded 48-nation, 104-game tournament, to be played in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.

There were long lines outside the complex even at 7 a.m. as workers and media filed through with Secret Service agents securing the area. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney also were on hand.

A red carpet was laid outside the arts center, taken over this year by Trump and his supporters. Retired stars Tom Brady of the NFL, Shaquille O’Neal of the NBA and Wayne Gretzky of the NHL along with three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge were to assist in a ceremony run by former England captain Rio Ferdinand.

All 11 of the highest-ranked teams were in the draw, with No. 12 Italy among 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths to be decided March 31.

The tournament opens June 11 in Mexico City. The U.S., which reached the semifinals at the inaugural World Cup in 1930 and has gotten as far as the quarterfinals only one other time in 2002, starts the next day in Inglewood, California. Canada kicks off in Toronto.

All games from the quarterfinals on will be in the U.S., which is using 11 NFL stadiums. Sites for most games and kickoff times are to be announced Saturday.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Ronald Blum, Howard Fendrich And Noah Trister, The Associated Press