Washington, D.C. – In a light-hearted moment in the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump was shown the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and quipped, “Can I keep it?”
Trump jokes about keeping the trophy
During a ceremony announcing that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place at the Kennedy Center on 5 December, Trump was handed the golden trophy. He lifted it with both hands and jokingly asked if he could keep it, calling it “a beautiful piece of gold”. The moment drew laughter and underscored Trump’s playful yet theatrical engagement with the event.
World Cup draw set for Kennedy Center
The tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams, a first for the competition, running from 11 June to 19 July 2026. The Kennedy Center announcement highlighted Washington’s symbolic role in kickstarting the global event—despite not being a match-hosting city.
Trump’s theatrical touch amid high stakes
Trump, who now chairs a White House task force coordinating federal preparations for the World Cup, used the ceremony to add flair to his role, blending political theatre with global sport diplomacy.
Conclusion
Trump’s quip—”Can I keep it?”—might have been tongue-in-cheek, but it reflects his flair for spectacle. Beyond the joke, the event signalled America’s enthusiastic, and at times theatrical, role in hosting the world’s biggest football tournament.