On December 5, US President Donald Trump announced the John F. Kennedy Art Center in Washington will serve as a venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Speaking from the White House, President Trump said: “It’s a great honor to bring world-class events, these wonderful people, and all these great football athletes—top players of the world—together at the central hub of our nation’s capital.” He was joined by Vice President JD Vance, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and other relevant ministers.
Infantino praised Trump, stating: “We are uniting the world, the president is uniting the world here in US territory, and we are really proud of this.” FIFA later presented Trump with the 2026 World Cup award.
Infantino also anticipates the 2026 World Cup will attract over 1 billion global followers. Trump lightheartedly asked, “Can I keep this award?” which drew laughter from those in the White House office, before he went on to praise the World Cup trophy.
The US president also announced that a dedicated 2026 World Cup office may be established at the JFK Art Center.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, featuring a new format with 48 teams and a total of 104 matches. Canada and Mexico will each host 13 games, while the United States will host 78 competitions across 11 states with designated match locations.
