FIFA president Gianni Infantino continued his bromance with US president Donald Trump with the announcement in the Oval office that the final draw for the 48-team World Cup would be held in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
The two beaming world leaders continued their Disney-like love-in with Trump saying: “It’s going to be very safe, Gianni. You can walk down the street with your beautiful wife. You can take her to dinner if you can get a reservation.”
Trump in the past week has deployed the National Guard and ordered an increased presence of federal law enforcement to assist in crime prevention in Washington DC, a capital city which he said had “been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.”
In return for a safe dining experience with his beautiful wife, Infantino presented Trump with the World Cup trophy and a personalised ticket to the 2026 World Cup final – Row 1, Seat 1.
It had been leaked that FIFA was going to host the draw at the spectacular Sphere in Las Vegas on December 5 which would have been a magnet for fans, media and football’s administrators. But FIFA has junked razzamatazz and the world’s entertainment capital, for political expediency and, presumably, favour.
Infantino has become a regular figure in Trump’s supporting cast, uncomfortably crossing the boundaries of sport and politics as Trump has used the world’s game and ‘his’ hosting of 2026 to support his own political agendas.
Infantino accompanied Trump on his recent tour of the Middle East to the point of turning up late for his own Annual Congress in Paraguay, much to the disappoint of his own football stakeholders, many of whom walked out half way through the meeting. It hasn’t stopped his courtship of Trump but if FIFA’s World Cup is the major part of this relationship the tail is now clearly wagging the dog.
Infantino has regularly been paraded at the Oval office and even attended with members of the Juventus team during the Club World Cup at a press conference where they stood behind the US president as he answered questions on whether he had decided to bomb Iran.
“We are excited to host the most anticipated Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup in history in the cultural and entertainment heart of the United States, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The draw is a major tournament milestone and one that will continue the remarkable build-up to the biggest sporting event ever,” said Infantino.
In what FIFA is saying is a first for the World Cup draw, fans from each of the 16 Host Cities (two in Canada, three in Mexico and 11 in the United States) can enter a lottery for the chance to win complimentary admission and a VIP experience to the event.
Washington DC did bid to host games at the 2026 finals but did not make the final 11 of US cities that were awarded games.
Insideworldfootball.com
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