Post by : Meena Ariff

The march towards the inaugural 48-team World Cup intensifies with the draw taking place in Washington, D.C., where former US President Donald Trump is expected to capture significant attention.

Set for June 11 to July 19, this North American tournament will be the largest ever, introducing 16 more teams than the 32 involved in the 2022 Qatar edition.

Held at the renowned Kennedy Center, the draw ceremony is set to be a spectacular affair. Trump's recent appointment as chairman of the Kennedy Center has fueled expectations that he will receive the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize for his contributions towards unity and inspiring future generations, as stated by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The glamorous event will feature co-hosts supermodel Heidi Klum and comedian Kevin Hart, alongside performances by Village People, Andrea Bocelli, and Robbie Williams. Sports icons like Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, and Shaquille O’Neal will also assist with the draw.

Trump has branded the World Cup as a cornerstone of his second presidential term, coinciding with the US's 250th independence celebration next year. He has mixed sports with politics, suggesting potential relocations of matches from Democratic-led cities should safety become a concern.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum will also grace the event with their presence. A total of 11 venues will host matches in the US, alongside three in Mexico and two in Canada.

Initially, Iran's participation was in jeopardy due to visa complications for its delegation, but the team confirmed its attendance, including head coach Amir Ghalenoei.

Argentina, the defending champions, will be among the top seeds alongside Spain, Brazil, France, Germany, England, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The three host nations complete the elite group of top seeds. The expanded format has also granted opportunities for first-time qualifiers like Cape Verde, Jordan, and Curacao.

However, the new 48-team structure has drawn criticism, with former FIFA president Sepp Blatter calling it a “monster.” Teams will be distributed into 12 groups of four, from which the top two in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will proceed to the knockout stage. For the first time, the highest-ranked nations—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—will only clash in the semi-finals.

Six spots remain undecided and will be resolved through playoffs, impacting the final matchups. Italy, 2006 World Cup champions and absent from the last two tournaments, are among the contenders to watch.

The opening game is slated for Mexico City’s iconic Azteca Stadium, with the grand finale set for MetLife Stadium near New York City. Complete match timings and venues will be disclosed the day following the draw.

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