The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw in Washington D.C. on Friday offered a mix of sporting anticipation and political highlights, as preparations ramp up for the tournament’s expanded 48-team format. President Donald Trump attended the event, prompting both lighthearted discussion about the nomenclature of “football” and the announcement of a new FIFA honor. beyond the on-field matchups, the ceremony saw President Trump awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, recognizing what the organization described as extraordinary contributions to global peace and unity.
President of the United States Donald Trump sparked laughter and applause during an event in Washington on Friday, December 5th, suggesting that American football should consider a name change.
The U.S. President made the remark during the draw for the 2026 World Cup in Washington. Addressing officials and FIFA executives, Trump stated: “It seems like we never call [soccer] by that name because we have a conflict with something else called ‘football.’ But when you think about it, that *is* football. We need to come up with another name,” he said.
The comment drew chuckles from the audience and was seen as a lighthearted reference to the long-standing confusion caused by the term “football” in the United States, which typically refers to American football – while the globally recognized sport is known as soccer in the country.
The draw brought together leaders from all three host nations: alongside Trump, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney were in attendance. The 2026 tournament will be the first to feature 48 national teams.
Trump Receives Inaugural FIFA Peace Prize
The President was also honored during the ceremony, officially becoming the first recipient of FIFA’s newly created Peace Prize, announced in November. According to the organization, the annual award will recognize individuals who have demonstrated “exceptional and extraordinary measures for peace and unity among peoples.”
The selection of the awardee had been kept largely under wraps, with speculation focusing on the U.S. President – a prediction confirmed at the event. FIFA, however, did not release details regarding the selection criteria.
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Trump also invoked the name of Pelé while discussing anticipation for the upcoming World Cup, and revealed he has a favorite team to win the title, though he declined to name it. The draw ceremony precedes the full match schedule announcement, slated for release by FIFA on Saturday.
</div><script async src="https://connect.facebook.net/pt_BR/all.js#xfbml=1"></script>The event highlights the growing international attention on the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico – a first for the tournament. The expanded format, featuring 48 teams, is expected to further elevate the global profile of the sport.
