The White House on Monday confirmed that US President Donald Trump will be present at the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, scheduled to take place in Washington later this week.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told journalists that the president is expected at the ceremony on Friday, which will be held at the John F. Kennedy Center, for the Performing Arts.

The United States is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico, and the forthcoming draw has been billed as one of the major milestones in preparations for the tournament.

Trump has repeatedly highlighted the World Cup as a signature event of his second term in office and a key feature of next year’s celebrations marking 250 years of American independence.

However, the build-up to the global sporting showcase has unfolded against a backdrop of political tension, partly fuelled by the president’s uncompromising policies on several domestic issues.

Trump has publicly floated the possibility of relocating matches from selected US host cities, citing his administration’s concerns over crime levels and immigration enforcement in some Democrat-led jurisdictions.