President Trump strode onto the world stage again this week to remind the globe—and his critics—that America can and will host the biggest sporting events on Earth. With the Kennedy Center chosen to host the 2026 World Cup draw, the president made clear that the United States is open for business and proud to put on a show no one on the left could imagine us pulling off.
The formal draw is set for December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., a bold choice that puts the cultural heart of our capital front and center for the world to see. That decision underscores the scale and confidence of this administration’s approach: hosting an expanded 48-team tournament across North America is no small feat, and Americans should be proud that our cities will carry it off.
Trump’s visibility at the event is no accident; FIFA plans to honor him during the ceremony, and the president will have a speaking role on the stage as the draw unfolds. For those who sneer about his personality, the facts are clear—this is a major diplomatic and cultural moment that cements relationships with partners across the hemisphere while projecting American leadership.
This World Cup promises massive economic upside for ordinary Americans: more jobs, a tourism boom, and robust ticket sales already reported in the millions. Rather than the doom-and-gloom forecasts from the coastal elite, the tournament is a concrete opportunity to put money in the pockets of small businesses, hoteliers, and working-class families in host cities from coast to coast.
Security and order have been a central part of the president’s pitch, and rightfully so—if we want fans and families to come, they must be safe when they arrive. The administration’s emphasis on restoring law and order in Washington and preparing the country to handle such an enormous influx of visitors shows the kind of commonsense governance voters expect and rarely get from the political class.
Of course the usual suspects—human rights activists and partisan media—are already looking for reasons to complain, attacking the choice to spotlight Trump and raising visa concerns for certain delegations. Conservatives know better: the World Cup is about sport, national pride, and open markets for American workers, not political score-settling, and indulging the outrage industry only hands them another veto over the country’s achievements.
Hardworking Americans should welcome the fans, celebrate our cities, and back a president who delivers results instead of culture-war slogans. This tournament will put America at the center of the world in 2026, and that’s something every patriot—regardless of party—should be proud to support while the elites on the left keep whining from the sidelines.
