Wait, Trump is fantasizing about playing in the 2026 World Cup — someone should tell him the field isn’t wide enough for his waistline

President Donald Trump made headlines during a White House press conference on August 22, 2025, when he announced that the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The announcement came during an Oval Office meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who brought the World Cup trophy with him for the special occasion.

During the event, Trump couldn’t help but talk about his own athletic abilities and his youngest son’s sports interests. The president shared personal details about 19-year-old Barron Trump’s impressive height and soccer skills, while also joking about his own potential participation in the upcoming tournament.

According to People, Trump made reporters laugh when he jokingly suggested he might try to play in the 2026 World Cup himself. “I see the money that these soccer players are making. I may try and play,” he said during the press conference. “I’m a very good athlete.” He then shifted the conversation to his son, saying “My son is a very good athlete” and adding that while Barron is “a good soccer player,” he’s “on the tall side for soccer” at 6’9″. The president repeated, “That’s pretty tall. He’s on the tall side, but it’s good.”

The youngest Trump family member has become known for his towering stature, which has been a topic of public fascination for years. Standing at 6’9″, Barron is significantly taller than his father, who is 6’3″, and towers over his entire family. His height has made him one of the tallest teenagers in America and comparable to many professional basketball players.

For context, the tallest soccer players in history have both been 6’11”, making Barron’s height unusual but not unprecedented for the sport. FIFA President Infantino agreed during the press conference that Barron would indeed tower over the average soccer player. Despite his height potentially being a disadvantage in soccer, Barron has maintained his love for the sport and has been described as a fan of Arsenal F.C.

The 2026 World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time three nations have co-hosted the tournament. The draw on December 5 will determine the group-stage matchups for the expanded 48-team field. 

Trump emphasized the significance of the event, calling it “probably the biggest event in sports” and noting that the Kennedy Center “will give it a phenomenal kickoff.” The tournament is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, with games across 16 stadiums in North America, and all matches from the quarterfinals onward will be played in the United States.