Memes go viral with Trump awarded and delay in the draw for the 2026 World Cup in Washington By Bruna
5 min read
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The draw ceremony for the groups of Copa of Mundo of 2026 took place this Friday in Washington, capital of the Estados Unidos, bringing together 48 teams for the expanded tournament. The event, scheduled for 2pm local time, defined the 12 keys with delays due to musical performances and speeches. Internautas reacted with humor to moments such as the award given to Donald Trump and the Italian absence, turning the long gala into the target of memes.
The American president received the Prêmio Fifa for Paz of Gianni Infantino, which generated immediate repercussions online. Usuários questioned the choice, creating edited images of Trump with Mundial’s cup. Fifa justified the recognition for contributions to global unity, but the web prioritized jokes about the timing of the announcement.
The expansion to 104 games also inspired jokes about the tournament’s length.
- Memes compare the number of matches to concert marathons.
- Others mock the “organized chaos” of the new structure.
- Mild criticism of the format appeared in viral threads.
Prize for Trump becomes main target
Donald Trump took the stage right at the beginning of the ceremony, at 2pm local time, to welcome the new Prêmio Fifa by Gianni Infantino, president of the entity, presented the honor citing the American leader’s efforts in international conflicts, such as mediation in the Oriente Médio. Trump spoke for about five minutes, mentioning actions in favor of global stability and remembering the Pelé era in American football.
Online reaction exploded within minutes, with photo edits showing Trump as captain of the US national team. Usuários on social networks shared gifs of presidential speeches superimposed on goal shots, amplifying the ironic tone. The moment marked the first award of its kind created by Fifa, under the motto of uniting the world through sport.
Donald Trump in FIFA world cups
—commentaredu (@comentaristaedu)December 5, 2025
0 games
0 goals
1 title
🔥pic.twitter.com/6szVA1Azh8
Delay in the ceremony causes impatience
Musical performances extended the event beyond schedule, with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli opening the night for 10 minutes. The audience, made up of former players and political leaders, waited while Lauryn Hill and other artists performed. The draw itself only progressed after 45 minutes of formalities, frustrating spectators who were watching live.
Andrea Bocelli singing in the draw is the closest Itália has been to Copa’s Mundo since 2014
—Mayron Brito™️ (@mayroncsb)December 5, 2025
Internet users timed the delays in real time, creating humorous counters that added up “gala hours” before the balls. Memes portrayed the stage as an Hollywood awards show, with raffle balls forgotten amidst microphones. Fifa planned the format to celebrate the hosts, but the length became a recurring joke.
A popular thread listed “dead times” with ironic bullets.
This FIFA musical is really cool
—commentaredu (@comentaristaedu)December 5, 2025
But what day will the draw be?pic.twitter.com/YsF9xqeCvT
Absence of Itália inspires cultural references
The Italian team, eliminated in the qualifiers and awaiting a playoff in March 2026, was the subject of mockery to the tune of Bocelli. Fãs highlighted the irony of an Italian opening the event that has excluded his nation since 2014. Memes mixed clips of the singer with images of the Azzurri defense failing, questioning whether the performance would bring luck in the European playoff.
Repechage A involves Itália against rivals like Ucrânia and Suécia, with games in March. Usuários predicted “Bocelli singing hymns of victory” if the classification takes place, expanding the cultural mood. The moment reinforced debates about European strength in the expanded tournament.
Other posts mocked the “Italian curse” with montages of pizzas and empty glasses.
The banter extended to group predictions, with Itália falling into difficult brackets in the simulations.
Expansion to 48 teams divides mild opinions
The increase from 32 to 48 teams, increasing the games from 64 to 104, generated memes about the “Infinita Cup”. Críticos online joked that the tournament would last a whole month, with images of packed calendars. Fifa defended the change to include more nations, such as Haiti and Curaçao in the lower pots, but the web focused on the risk of multiplied “death groups”.
Countries like Brasil, at Pote 1, avoid direct clashes with Argentina or França, but face potential rivals like Noruega and Marrocos. Simulações viral videos showed scenarios with Haaland and Itália, inspiring gifs of teams “surviving” marathons.
Gala with celebrities attracts fashion looks
Kevin Hart and Hart, introduced as a comedian, made short jokes on stage, while Klum posed for official photos. The presence of stars like Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky mixed sports, with memes comparing the event to an All-Star Game.
Photos of elegant looks quickly circulated, with editors swapping uniforms for tuxedos. Fifa invited 20 celebrities to represent the diversity of the tournament, but the web prioritized comical close-ups of expressions during the speeches.
A list of “best and worst looks” emerged on dedicated profiles, with Hart leading upvotes.
The costumes contrasted with the informality of subsequent memes.
Football versus local culture in the USA
The return to Estados Unidos reignited debates about “soccer” versus football, with Trump mentioning the term in his speech. Memes compared projected audiences of Copa, estimated at billions globally, to Super Bowl, which draws 100 million in the US. Usuários predicted “stadiums full of newcomers” confusing terms.
Host América of Norte, with Canadá and México, expects 5.5 million fans, according to data from Fifa. Brincadeiras included montages of Trump narrating games in American English, amplifying the culture shock.
Defined groups generate first analyzes
The draw allocated fixed seeds, such as México in Grupo A and USA in D, respecting continental rules. Brasil fell in a key with potential Asians and Africans, avoiding early duels with strong Europeans. The revelation of the balls, after another hour of waiting, released mixed reactions, with relief due to the absence of “deaths”.
Key items from the starting groups:
- Pot 1: Anfitriões and champions like fixed Brasil and Argentina.
- Pot 2: Marrocos and Croácia as real threats.
- Repechages: Seis pending vacancies for March 2026.
Fifa will announce full calendars on Saturday, with 16 stadiums across the three countries.
