The draw for the 2026 World Cup took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
The ceremony mixed football, music and politics:
The draw was hosted by Heidi Klum, Kevin Hart, and actor Danny Ramirez.
On the music/performance side: opera star Andrea Bocelli kicked things off with “Nessun Dorma,” paying tribute to the sport’s history.
Other acts included Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, and – perhaps most pointedly – the disco-group Village People, who closed the event with their anthem “Y.M.C.A.”
The inclusion of the Village People performance was widely read as a wink to Trump’s past use of “Y.M.C.A.” at political rallies.
So it was a draw like no other – a blend of football, showbiz, and politics.
England Favoured, Scotland Undaunted: A Tale of Two World Cup Draws
England and Scotland both emerged from today’s World Cup draw with groups that feel challenging but far from unmanageable – and, crucially, full of narrative. England landed in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana, and Panama, a mix that offers familiar danger and stylistic contrast. Croatia brings tournament pedigree and technical control, Ghana offer physicality and unpredictability, while Panama round out the group with the kind of organised, stubborn football that can frustrate even elite sides. It’s a group England should progress from, but one with no room for complacency.
Scotland, meanwhile, were handed a far tougher path in Group C with Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Brazil’s star-studded squad needs no introduction, Morocco arrive as one of the most disciplined and tactically mature sides in world football, and even Haiti – though underdogs = possess pace and the fearlessness of a team with nothing to lose. For Scotland, it’s a formidable test, but also a chance to create the kind of defining, against-the-odds moments their supporters live for.
Donald Trump & the new “Peace Prize”: political overtones
A major talking point of the evening was the debut of the FIFA Peace Prize, created this year by FIFA.
The inaugural Peace Prize was awarded to Donald J. Trump.
On stage, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented a gold-colored trophy and a medal to Trump — who then placed it around his neck, calling it “one of the greatest honors of my life.
Trump used the moment to praise cooperation between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, to laud FIFA’s record ticket sales, and to extol his own role in making the tournament happen.
The creation of the Peace Prize and its first awarding to Trump, combined with the fanfare around the draw’s entertainment, made the event as much a political/PR spectacle as a sporting milestone.
The Draw: Groups for World Cup 2026
The 48 qualified teams (plus placeholders for playoff winners) were drawn into 12 groups of four. Here is how the groups shape up:
Group
Teams
A
Mexico, South Africa, Korea Republic, UEFA Playoff D Winner
B
Canada, UEFA Playoff A Winner, Qatar, Switzerland
C
Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
D
USA, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C Winner
E
Germany, Curaçao, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador
F
Netherlands, Japan, UEFA Playoff B Winner, Tunisia
Several countries make their World Cup debut: including Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
The hosts/favored nations are scattered across the draw: hosts Mexico is in Group A; host USA lands in Group D; host Canada ends up in Group B.
The structure ensures that (where possible) groups avoid having more than one team from the same region, especially limiting European teams.
The full match schedule will be released later – but the draw does give a picture of the tournament’s shape and possible road-maps.
🔎 What this draw – and Donald Trump’s involvement – really means
The 2026 World Cup draw was never going to be “just a draw.” By blending glamour, pop culture, and high-stakes politics, the organizers turned it into a global spectacle. The awarding of the new Peace Prize to Trump signals a deep, intentional intertwining of sport and political image-making by FIFA.
For many fans and observers, the entertainment-heavy ceremony — from opera to disco — added colour and energy; for others, it underscored concerns about politicization of sport. The presence of newcomers like Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan also reminds us that this edition, with 48 teams, will be among the most diverse ever.
