Soccer tournament draws were once quiet, procedural affairs: televised formalities where the only drama came from which team landed in which group. That changed dramatically in December 1993 in Las Vegas, when the United States hosted the draw for the 1994 World Cup . Robin Williams ad-libbed jokes on stage, James Brown brought the soul, and Stevie Wonder closed the show. The spectacle set a new precedent: World Cup draws could be showbiz.

Nearly 30 years later, with the World Cup again returning to American soil, the draw has taken another sharp turn into the realm of politics and personal branding. Originally set for Las Vegas, FIFA officials moved the 2026 draw to Washington, D.C., reportedly at the request of President Donald Trump , who preferred the setting.

What followed was

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