FIFA’s Wild World Cup Draw: A-List Stars, Heads of State, and Trump

WASHINGTON — Some events in sports that are essentially a reading of names or dates have grown into massive, over-the-top spectacles. The National Football League’s Draft and schedule release are certainly prime examples. FIFA’s World Cup draw, set for Friday, seeks to put even those high-profile events to shame. 

Soccer’s global governing body has scheduled a lavish ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., to outline the groupings for next year’s men’s World Cup, set to be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The heads of state for all three countries—U.S. President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico—will attend the event.

Rather than a staid, politically tinged event, though, the glitzy showcase will also lend an additional spotlight on a deepening relationship between the Trump White House and FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino, as well as a Kennedy Center that is now under the firm control of Trump instead of those with a background in performing arts. 

FIFA has booked a series of entertainers, including Andrea Bocelli, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and the Village People, with the latter performing its “Y.M.C.A.” that has become a Trump anthem. The governing body is also expected to award a newly created peace prize to Trump, representing something of a consolation prize after he did not receive a Nobel Peace Prize that he covets. 

A wide range of celebrities and star athletes are also expected to attend, including a quartet of “draw assistants” that includes Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, and Aaron Judge. 

How It Will Work

The draw will assign the 48 competing countries into one of 12 groups. The countries have been assigned to draw pots, largely based on current FIFA world rankings. Six of the final World Cup slots have yet to be claimed and will be during upcoming play-in tournaments. 

The outcome of Friday, however, will be the collection of teams that will guide the group stage of the global tournament. 

The group positions for the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have been predetermined to ensure those teams will play in their respective home countries. Who will join them, however, is a key part of what the draw will determine, and the entire effort is designed to help ensure an even spread of team quality across the bracket. 

The day will end with individual national teams knowing their opponents and match dates, but the finalized match schedule that slots specific matches to specific cities won’t arrive until Saturday. 

Missing Messi?

Argentine star Lionel Messi, currently in the midst of a starring run with Inter Miami to Saturday’s MLS Cup, said he is not certain whether he will participate in next year’s World Cup. 

Messi will turn 39 during the tournament, and physical concerns are paramount. 

“I hope I can be there. I’ve said before that I’d love to be there,” he told ESPN. “At worst, I’ll be there watching it live, but it will be special.”