Inside the controversial $257 million World Cup 2026 draw venue FIFA is paying $7 million for

Many expected Friday’s World Cup draw to be held in Las Vegas only for The Kennedy Center to be announced as host in a controversial move.

Sin City suffered a double blow when its iconic $2bn stadium failed to address one crucial factor, forcing the draw to move across country.

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Donald Trump has brought new events to the performing arts venue[/caption]

Questions were raised by Senate Democrats after documents showed that FIFA had been granted ‘exclusive’ use of the facility from November 24 through December 12 at no cost.

They argued that the venue would lose millions in revenue.

FIFA paying The Kennedy Center $7.4 million too host 2026 World Cup draw

The Kennedy Center later insisted it is being paid $7.4 million to hold the 2026 World Cup draw on on Friday, December 5.

Vice president of public relations Roma Daravi told the AP that $2.4 million has been donated in addition to “sponsorship opportunities separate from their commitments for an additional $5 million.”

“When you look at the full picture, it totals $7.4 million to the Kennedy Center, plus incurred expenses,” Daravi added.

The Center has become caught in the middle of a political row with questions raised over the use of expenses.

“The Center is being looted to the tune of millions of dollars in foregone revenue, cancelled programming, unpaid use of its facilities, and wasteful spending on luxury restaurants and hotels — an unprecedented pattern of self-dealing, favoritism, and waste,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse — the top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee — wrote in a letter to its president Richard Grenell.

“I take financial responsibility extremely seriously,” Grenell replied, claiming that he has raised $117 million this year.

President Donald Trump has become more involved with the Kennedy Center in his second term, appointing Grenell and filling the board of trustees with supporters.

He has been named the board’s chair and oversaw a huge increase in annual funding after claiming it was in ‘disrepair.’

The Kennedy Center will receive $257 million from the domestic spending agenda — six times the normal award from Congress, per NPR.

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Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino join forces for FIFA World Cup

Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino discussed bringing the draw to Washington at the Club World Cup final in July.

FIFA is hosting the event in the Concert Hall — The Center’s largest theatre with 2,465 seats.

It has announced that the Village People will sing Trump’s adopted anthem YMCA live.

The Eisenhower Theatre is being used for over overflow seating, while there are also plans for seminars, a broadcast compound, ‘green carpet’ and legends lounge.

FIFA has office space in Trump Tower, New York, as it prepares for next year’s tournament, which breaks new ground with its new format, and the President has been a consistent presence.

Infantino has spoken in favor of the Commander in Chief’s performance and attacked his critics.

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FIFA has announced that it will award an inaugural ‘Peace Prize’ at the World Cup draw.

Asked if Trump, who has campaigned vocally to be handed a Nobel Peace Prize, was set to win, Infantino replied: “Well, on the 5th of December, you will see.”

Trump is set to host the Kennedy Center Honors days after the draw, with George Strait, Kiss, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor and Sylvester Stallone recognized.