United States President Donald Trump will participate in the FIFA World Cup draw on Friday, in a ceremony full of pomp, ostentation and luxurious displays worthy of a showman.
This event is being held in Washington, at the Kennedy Center, which Trump took over earlier this year, appointing a new president and a new board of directors.
Trump’s presence in the World Cup draw puts him at the heart of an important moment in the world of sports, and planners clearly had him in mind when organizing the event.
Popular disco band Village People will perform a version of “YMCA,” one of Trump’s political staples, as FIFA plans to unveil its own Peace Prize.
Expected recipient? Trump.
The president has publicly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his involvement in ending numerous conflicts abroad. These efforts have yielded mixed results.
Classical singer Andrea Bocelli is scheduled to perform at a concert on Friday, alongside British pop star Robbie Williams and American singer and Broadway star Nicole Scherzinger.
Trump has often used the privileges of the presidency to participate in major sporting and cultural events this year. He attended the Super Bowl in February to applause and boos from the crowd, and on Sunday he plans to attend the tribute ceremony at the Kennedy Center, which he declined to attend during his first term.
Geopolitics will make its presence felt in the World Cup event. An Iranian delegation will participate in the draw after initially saying it would boycott the ceremony due to visa problems, according to media reports. The United States bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June.