Washington DC ready to host FIFA World Cup 2026 final draw, on Dec 5, President Trump is expected to attend
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
All is set for the hosting of the highest profile final draw in the history of the FIFA World Cup , which is schedule to take place , on December 5, at the J F Kennedy Centre located in the heart of US Capitol, Washington DC.
The final draw is scheduled to take place, 12pm Eastern Time EST, 6pm West African (Nigerian)Time. WAT
Our correspondent who visited the Kennedy Centre on Wednesday morning reports that , there is a gradual heavy build up of human traffic related to the FIFA world cup 2026 , the event is described as one of the most anxious moments of the Mondial, as millions of football fans would be anxiously watching and jeering at the unveiling of the opponents that would trade hostilities against their favorite national teams.
National and international journalists have began to besiege the centre in mass in search of scope , over 1.2 billions football fans are expected to follow the event through various media platforms from across the globe .
FIFA electronic boards now stands erected at the major entry point to the venue , the interior of the centre now wear a new look , technicians, craftsmen and women, media engineers are neck deep in installing gadgets, FIFA branded interior signages and special furniture’s have been mounted in readiness for the d -day.
Various segments in the interior parts of the centre have been taken over by FIFA branded signages , bill boards , a well lighten path way is now hoisting the national flags of the different nations that have qualified for the 2026 world cup in US, Canada and Mexico.
The 2026 World cup would be the largest in history featuring 48 national teams, so far 42 countries have qualified for the Mondial, six remaining teams would pick their tickets through Playoffs.
Our correspondent reports that, the atmosphere remain calm as visitors roam in and out of the J F Centre, journalists are also busy taking video shots and photographs.
The White House last Tuesday had stated that the US President , Donald Trump would grace the final draw, he is expected to preside over the draw.
It would be recalled that President Trump was live at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup final game, on July 13, 2025 played at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Impeccable sources have revealed that President Trump would be the recipient of the newly introduced FIFA Peace prize Award.
The top seeds are the defending world cup champions , Argentina, the host nations USA, Mexico and Canada, former five time winners Samba Boys of Brazil, two time winner The Blues of France, four time winners German Machines , as well as Spain, England, Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium are the other top seeds teams .
T he Azteca Stadium in Mexico City would host the opening match , the stadium is historical for hosting the 1970 and 1986world cup finals, the final of the 2026 FIFA world cup would be played at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
In departure from the usual tradition, this time the match venues and kickoff times would be announced on Saturday, a day after the draw. has been staged , this is owing to the intricacies associated with this edition of the biggest football fiesta.
The operators of the Kennedy Center in reply to congressional queries have revealed that FIFA has paid the Centre an whopping sum of $7.4 million to stage the draw at the venue .
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, said FIFA “has also given us sponsorship opportunities separate from their commitments for an additional $5 million,” .
She added that “When you look at the full picture, it totals $7.4 million to the Kennedy Center, plus incurred expenses,” .
The FIFA world cup in 2026 will be hosted across cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 .
