
US President Donald Trump's joke at the White House stumped FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The incident happened at the Oval Office, when Infantino was showing Trump the FIFA World Cup trophy. Trump, after being handed the trophy, told the FIFA President that he was not going to give it back. He had the whole Oval Office burst out in laughter.
The moment went viral on the internet, with Trump fans finding the whole exchange amusing. The President also announced that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington will host the 2026 World Cup draw. The draw is scheduled to take place on December 5, kicking off a year of more than 100 US-hosted football matches.
advertisementFIFA president lets President Trump hold the winner's trophy:
GIANNI INFANTINO: "Since you are a winner, of course, you can as well touch it."
TRUMP: "Can I keep it?" pic.twitter.com/qttKqmQXkv— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 22, 2025
"It's a tremendous honour to bring this global event and this incredible group of people and these unbelievable athletes, the best athletes in the world, to the cultural centre of our nation's capital," Trump said in the Oval Office, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem, along with Richard Grenell, a special presidential envoy who also heads the Kennedy Centre.
"We are uniting the world, Mr. President, uniting the world, here in America, and we are very proud of that," Infantino said, before letting Trump hold the golden World Cup trophy. He said 1 billion viewers worldwide were expected to watch the 2026 draw.
"Can I keep it?" joked Trump, who has redone the Oval Office to add more gold decorations. "That's a beautiful piece of gold." He also repeated a joke about renaming the centre as the Trump/Kennedy Centre.
Earlier on Friday, Trump announced that the World Cup 2026 would have its primary office in the Kennedy Centre. Trump is overseeing a $257 million renovation at the Kennedy Centre, which he has said would be a centrepiece of the 250th US anniversary celebrations next year, coinciding with the World Cup games.
"We're spending a lot of money, wisely, on making it really beautiful. It's going to be beautiful again," Trump said.
The 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the first with 48 teams and will feature 104 matches. Trump said the event would draw more than $30 billion into the US economy, creating more than 185,000 jobs. Noem said the US government would work to ensure proper vetting and visa procedures for the estimated 6 million fans likely to attend.
Canada will host 13 games, including 10 in the group stage split evenly between Toronto and Vancouver. Mexico will also get 13 games, including 10 during the group stage in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. The rest of the tournament will be held in 11 cities across the United States.
FIFA, global football's governing body, has already put boots on the ground in the United States in preparation for the quadrennial spectacle, with field offices in Miami and at New York's Trump Tower.
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