Trump touts 2026 World Cup draw success, claims massive viewership

President Donald Trump praises the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Friday while speaking to Republican lawmakers and members of his Cabinet at a White House event.

President Donald Trump praised the success of the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., on Friday, where he was honored with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize at the event meant to set the stage for the global sporting event coming to the United States next year. 

Speaking ahead of a private concert by Andrea Bocelli at the White House, the president thanked the Italian tenor for his opening performance at the Kennedy Center. Trump also remarked on the success of the draw and claimed that more than "a billion people" tuned in to watch the participating nations learn their fate for the tournament beginning in June. 

U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Emilee Chinn/FIFA via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

"He was so good today at the FIFA Award," Trump began, speaking about Bocelli. "It was an award for me, I can tell you. But it was a draw. And they say over a billion people were watching, and there was no way you could beat tonight what you did today, because that was one of the greatest openings to an event that I've ever seen. And he was in rare form." 

"What you did this morning was incredible, so thank you very much."

Singer Andrea Bocelli performs at the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, District of Columbia, on Dec. 5, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/Pool Photo via AP)

The private