Trump touts 2026 World Cup draw success, claims massive viewership

President Donald Trump praised the occurrence of the 2026 World Cup gully successful Washington, D.C., connected Friday, wherever helium was honored with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize astatine the lawsuit meant to acceptable the signifier for the planetary sporting lawsuit coming to the United States adjacent year. 

Speaking up of a backstage performance by Andrea Bocelli astatine the White House, the president thanked the Italian tenor for his opening show astatine the Kennedy Center. Trump besides remarked connected the occurrence of the gully and claimed that much than "a cardinal people" tuned successful to ticker the participating nations larn their destiny for the tourney opening successful June. 

U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw astatine John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts connected Dec. 5, 2025 successful Washington, D.C. (Emilee Chinn/FIFA via Getty Images)

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"He was truthful bully contiguous astatine the FIFA Award," Trump began, speaking astir Bocelli. "It was an grant for me, I tin archer you. But it was a draw. And they accidental implicit a cardinal radical were watching and determination was nary mode you could bushed contiguous what you did contiguous due to the fact that that was 1 of the top openings to an lawsuit that I've ever seen. And helium was successful uncommon form." 

"What you did this greeting was incredible, truthful convey you precise much."

Singer Andrea Bocelli performs astatine the gully for the 2026 shot World Cup astatine the Kennedy Center successful Washington, District of Columbia, connected Dec. 5, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP)

The backstage performance astatine the White House was attended by Republican lawmakers and members of Trump’s Cabinet.

US PREPARES FOR INFLUX OF INTERNATIONAL VISITORS AHEAD OF WORLD CUP WITH SECURITY AT THE FOREFRONT

The evening followed a time filled with high-profile stars, sports legends, and satellite leaders successful D.C. for the World Cup draw. 

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Trump connected signifier to gully their respective nations’ names arsenic the 3 countries hole to big the planetary tourney adjacent year.

President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino talk to members of the media during their accomplishment astatine the Kennedy Center for the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw. The lawsuit took spot successful Washington, District of Columbia, connected Dec. 5, 2025. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino besides presented Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, which recognized the president for his actions to "promote bid and unity astir the world." 

"This is genuinely 1 of the large honors of my life," Trump said, adding that "most important, I conscionable privation to convey everybody. The satellite is simply a safer spot now."

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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