FIFA are in advanced talks to hold the 2026 World Cup draw in Las Vegas, a report has claimed – but President Donald Trump could scupper their plans.
The governing body is said to be locked in negotiations with several glitzy venues in the popular resort city ahead of the ceremony taking place this December.
The US last hosted a men’s World Cup in 1994 and staged the draw at the Las Vegas Convention Center. President Bill Clinton made an appearance on video while Stevie Wonder and Robbie Williams were also part of the festivities.
According to The Athletic, FIFA would prefer to hold the event, which will divide the 48 teams into 12 groups of four, in Sin City but a final decision has not been made.
Several host city executives are also said to be keen for Las Vegas to get the nod, such is their desire to entertain potential commercial partners there around the draw.
FIFA have reportedly explored holding the ceremony at the 17,000-seater MGM Grand Garden Arena but alternative options are on the table. These include the T-Mobile Arena and The Sphere, the eye-catching venue which opened in September 2023.
FIFA are in advanced talks to hold the World Cup draw in Las Vegas, according to reports
The ceremony will take place in December and decide the 12 groups at the tournament
Donald Trump could scupper the plans and the event could be held in Washington D.C instead
However, the latter two locations are considered less likely because other events, including residencies and holiday concerts, would clash with the draw in December.
In January, the director of the host city committee for Monterrey, the Mexican city where four fixtures will take place, revealed they and Vancouver had put forward their interest in staging the draw, only to be turned down by FIFA.
The US will host 75 per cent of the games next year and boast 11 of the 16 host cities.
But FIFA are also reported to have discussed the idea of moving the draw closer to Trump in Washington D.C. Options on the table range from holding the ceremony in a slimmed-down format at the White House or using other potential sites in the capital.
It has not been ruled out that Trump could jet to Las Vegas for the occasion. The president recorded a video message for the Club World Cup draw held in Miami last December, an event his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner attended.
Trump has made several glowing references to hosting the World Cup since returning to the White House and has praised FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino, 55, attended one of Trump’s pre-inauguration rallies and appeared alongside him in the Oval Office to showcase the Club World Cup trophy.
FIFA declined to comment and negotiations over the draw location are ongoing.
The 1994 draw was also held in Las Vegas and Bill Clinton appeared via video (pictured)
The city is said to be the preference of several executives and venues are under consideration
FIFA president Gianni Infantino visited Trump in the Oval Office in March
The newly expanded World Cup will feature 48 teams next year, 16 more than the traditional number of 32. The tournament will begin in Mexico on June 11, 2026.
Seven teams have already booked their spot. Indeed, alongside the three host nations, Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and Iran are confirmed to take part.