US President Donald Trump unveils venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw in December

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Washington's Kennedy Center will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw on December 5, during an Oval Office meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino where Trump playfully asked to keep the World Cup trophy and suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin might attend the tournament.The 48-team tournament's draw venue announcement comes after Trump recently installed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center, claiming to combat "woke" culture at the venue.Infantino brought the World Cup trophy to the White House for the announcement, allowing Trump to hold it."Only the FIFA president, presidents of countries, and then those who win can touch it, because it's for winners only. And since you are a winner, of course you can as well touch it," Infantino said."Can I keep it? That's a beautiful piece of gold," Trump responded while holding the trophy, apparently in jest.The FIFA Club World Cup trophy, however, remains in the Oval Office more than a month after Chelsea's victory in New Jersey.There was a brief moment of concern when Trump appeared to fumble the World Cup trophy before placing it on his desk, with Infantino reaching out to steady it.Infantino presented Trump with a giant ticket for Row 1 Seat 1 for the World Cup final scheduled for July 19 at the MetLife stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.Will Vladimir Putin attend the World Cup?Trump discussed Putin's potential attendance at the World Cup, showing a photo he said Putin sent after their recent Alaska summit. "He wants to be there very badly," Trump said, adding that Putin "may be coming and he may not" depending on Ukraine peace efforts.The United States was named as joint host with Canada and Mexico during Trump's first term in 2018. After losing to Joe Biden in 2020, Trump won a second term last year.Despite Trump's strict immigration policies, he assured that obtaining visas would be "very easy" for most World Cup fans, though acknowledging it would be "obviously a little bit more difficult" for visitors from 12 banned nations including Afghanistan, Haiti, and Iran.The draw venue was reportedly changed from Las Vegas to Washington's Kennedy Center, which Trump recently took control of citing concerns about it becoming too "woke."The President highlighted a federal crime crackdown in Washington involving National Guard troops, stating this would ensure safety for football fans visiting during the tournament.Trump emphasised the significance of the event, saying "It's the biggest, probably the biggest event in sports."