US Edition2026 FIFA World Cup: Contenders Plot Path to Glory After Trump Steals Show at Draw
The draw ceremony featured musical performances by Andrea Bocelli and Lauryn Hill, with President Trump dancing and attracting significant media attention during the event.
- On Dec. 5, 2025, the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw took place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where U.S. President Donald Trump danced in the audience.
- Musical numbers anchored the ceremony, led by Andrea Bocelli's Nessun Dorma in a blue velvet suit with symphony backing and Robbie Williams' 'Desire' performed with Nicole Scherzinger, Tony winner this year.
- The ceremony's surprise acts included a set from Lauryn Hill and a disco finale by The Village People; Hill performed 'Lost Ones' and others with sons Zion and YG Marley, while The Village People closed with 'YMCA' despite a fumbled vocal start.
- Celebrities and leaders packed the audience, blending entertainment and diplomacy, with Heidi Klum, Nicole Scherzinger, and Kevin Hart attending and Mark Carney and Claudia Sheinbaum pictured smiling.
- Robbie Williams, FIFA Music Ambassador, wrote 'Desire' with Karl Brazil, Owen Parker, and Erik Jan Grob, and recorded it with Laura Pausin, highlighting the event's musical investment.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The international press is horrified by the Fifa and US President's show at the World Cup draw. The reactions in the overview.
2026 FIFA World Cup: Contenders plot path to glory after Trump steals show at draw
The path to glory at the 2026 World Cup has now been laid out after the contenders discovered their tournament fate at Friday's draw ceremony in Washington which was dominated by Donald Trump. Story by Morgan Ayre.
Donald Trump steals the show at FIFA World Cup 2026 draw
He got a gold medal. He made a game show-style appearance with foreign leaders. And he danced to YMCA. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, US President Donald Trump, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney took part in the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Image: Dan Mullan / POOL/AFP The FIFA 2026 World Cup draw was officially about football, but really it was all about Donald Trump. The US president and former…
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