The 2026 FIFA World Cup is on the horizon, with fewer than 200 days separating us from the start of the competition.
The eyes of the world will descend on North America for the spectacle, with more teams set to compete in the tournament than ever before. Still, the event is already shrouded in murkiness — much of it stemming from FIFA's relationship with the Trump administration.
Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump’s friendship has drawn scrutiny in recent months. It will come to the surface once more during Friday’s World Cup draw, which will take place at a site that has become increasingly contentious since Trump returned to office.
With that, here’s what you need to know about the Kennedy Center, the site of the 2026 World Cup draw.
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What is the Kennedy Center?
Located a stone's throw from the White House, the Kennedy Center is one of Washington, D.C.'s signature venues. Officially known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the site is a cultural landmark known for hosting plays, dance performances, jazz shows and more. It houses the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.
Opened in 1971, the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall can seat up to 2,465 people, while its Opera House can hold 2,347.
While not necessarily known for hosting events outside the realm of performance art, the Kennedy Center comes equipped with a host of rooms, spaces, studios and terraces. All told, the building spans 1.5 million square feet across 17 acres of land.
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Why is the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center?
As a renowned cultural institute, the idea of hosting a World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center doesn't appear controversial at first glance. The refrain seems an obvious one — FIFA wants to use one of the U.S.'s most prominent venues to drum up excitement for the upcoming World Cup.
And yet, there is reason to believe that there's mischief afoot in regards to negotiations between soccer's global governing body and the center.
The center reportedly agreed to allow FIFA to rent its services free of charge, according to The Athletic. A U.S. Senate committee probe is investigating allegations of "cronyism and corruption" at the Kennedy Center. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island) sent a letter to Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell criticizing the Center's practices.
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The letter cited the Center's contract with FIFA officials. A copy of the agreement obtained by the Senate revealed that FIFA wasn't charged for renting the building for the World Cup draw.
“The Center,” Whitehouse wrote, “is being looted to the tune of millions of dollars in foregone revenue, cancelled programming, unpaid use of its facilities, and wasteful spending on luxury restaurants and hotels — an unprecedented pattern of self-dealing, favoritism, and waste.”
Grenell denied the allegations on X.
The @nytimes still has a story up saying FIFA isn’t paying the Kennedy Center for their World Cup Draw events.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) November 21, 2025
It’s not true. They are paying millions - paying all expenses *and* writing us a multi-million dollar sponsorship check.
The reporter @ktbenner won’t even return…
Center spokeswoman Roma Daravi told The Associated Press that FIFA will donate $2.4 million to the Center. According to Daravi, FIFA also secured sponsorships that will net the Center an additional $5 million.
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Donald Trump World Cup draw controversy
The Kennedy Center has long been considered an apolitical entity focused exclusively on the arts. In February, the Trump administration changed that. They sacked the Center's chair, president and Joe Biden-appointed board members. Trump swiftly replaced them with political allies, including Grenell.
In the months since Trump's return to office, the Center has hosted a series of non-artistic events, including the American Conservative Union Foundation's "Christian Persecution Summit" and a vigil for slain conservative pundit Charlie Kirk.
The Athletic reported that FIFA selected the Kennedy Center as the World Cup draw venue at Trump's behest. Soccer's governing body had previously held talks with Las Vegas to host the spectacle, with the Sphere tipped as a potential venue. In the end, the draw landed in the nation's capital, much to Trump's delight.
“We will lay out the red carpet," Trump said after announcing the agreement in August.
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The Washington Post obtained documents from Senate staff suggesting that the Center's decision to host the draw has led to rescheduling of multiple shows — costing the Center millions of dollars in potential rental fees. This comes as the Kennedy Center ticket sales reportedly fall precipitously.
FIFA Kennedy Center contract
Here is a link to FIFA and the Kennedy Center's agreement, as published by the Senate. Note Item No. 2 in the "Venue Long Form Agreement", which states the following:
"FIFA 26 agrees to pay Venue the total of $0.00 (i.e., $0.00 per day) for use of the Facility, to be paid in accordance with the schedule below.
Venue agrees to provide the Facilities to FIFA 26 free of any charges for the exclusive use by FIFA 26 for the entire duration of the Exclusive Use Period."