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Spurred on by World Cup 2026 fever, US President Donald Trump said Friday that American football should be renamed as the game played with a round ball, soccer, was the one true football.

“We have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that’s called football, but when you think about it, shouldn’t it really be called … football, there is no question. We have to come up with another name for the NFL (National Football League),” Trump said at the World Cup draw.

“It really doesn’t make sense when you think about it.”

READ ALSO: Trump Wins FIFA’s Inaugural Peace Prize

For Americans, the word “football” refers to American football, a sport primarily played with the hands — completely different from what the rest of the world calls football.

Almost the entire country tunes in each year to the NFL championship final, the Super Bowl, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino made sure on Friday to emphasize to Americans that the 2026 World Cup would be the equivalent of 104 Super Bowls.

An all-round sports enthusiast, Trump has developed a particular affection for soccer that continues to grow as the 2026 World Cup, which will take place next summer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, approaches.

According to the draw made on Friday in Washington, reigning champions Argentina will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup.

In their group, five-time champions Brazil take on Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti, while France takes on Senegal, Norway, and a playoff qualifier in their group.

In the competition’s opening game, South Africa will face Mexico, which hosts them.

Trump Wins FIFA’s inaugural peace prize, read more.

Groups competing in the World Cup in 2026

The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup in the following 12 groups:

Group A

A qualifier includes Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and South Korea.

Group B

Qatar, Switzerland, Qatar, and Canada are all qualifying.

Group C

Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland

Group D

United States, Paraguay, and Australia as a qualifying country.

Group E

Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Germany

Group F

Tunisia, Japan, Netherlands, and a qualifier.

Group G

Iran, New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt

Group H

Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the Cape Verde.

Group I

Norway, Senegal, France, and qualifier

Group J

Jordan, Algeria, Austria, and Argentina

Group K

Portugal, a qualifier, Uzbekistan, and Colombia

Group L

Ghana, Panama, Croatia, and England

At Friday’s 2026 World Cup draw, US President Donald Trump received the first-ever Nobel Peace Prize as a compensatory award for a leader whose unfulfilled Nobel ambitions are still unfulfilled.

The 79-year-old was presented with the award during the ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington by Gianni Infantino, the head of the world football organization and a close ally of Donald Trump.

“Thank you very much. One of my greatest pleasures is undoubtedly this. Gianni and I discussed this while talking about the awards, adding that they had saved “millions and millions of lives.”

Infantino claimed that Trump received the award for “exceptional and extraordinary” actions that helped bring about world peace and harmony.

FIFA announced the annual prize in November, saying that winners would be honored for their “hope for future generations.”

Its debutant didn’t come as a surprise to anyone.

Also read: FIFA Gives Clubs An Extra Week Before Releasing AFCON Stars &nbsp

Infantino, 55, and Trump have a close relationship, having been in office since January when they last last spoke.

The US president frequently asserts that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to put an end to what he claims is an illustrious year of conflicts, including a flimsy ceasefire in Gaza.

Last month, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado the Nobel Peace Prize.

Infantino also attended the signing of the peace agreement in Egypt, and Trump has taken the place of a “board of peace” for the war-torn region of Gaza, while his administration renamed a Washington peace institute this week after him.

The US president’s second presidency has focused on the World Cup.

FIFA, a sporting body that extols its political neutrality, made an extraordinary move with this.

#FIFAWorldCup image twitter.com/Nm2ELMh8bh

The prize hasn’t been disclosed in much detail. Human Rights Watch claims to have written to FIFA asking for a list of the nominees, judges, the selection criteria, and selection procedure, but has not received a response.

Trump is receiving criticism from Democrats and civil rights organizations for a variety of issues.

The self-declared “president of peace” has ordered deadly airstrikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats and launched a massive US military presence in Venezuela.

He has also ordered a hardline immigration crackdown, threatening to move World Cup contests from cities where he has deployed troops, and halting asylum applications from 19 nations, including Haiti and Iran, who are World Cup participants.

And he has retaliated against political rivals, those who refute his false claim that he won the 2020 election, and other candidates.

Trump declared himself the winner this year at the Kennedy Center, which he called a war against “woke” culture.

When questioned Friday over his team’s harrowing 3-1 defeat at Leeds in midweek, Enzo Maresca claimed he had no choice but to rotate his Chelsea squad.

The Blues are now nine points clear of Arsenal, who leads the Premier League, with their place in fourth place as a result of Wednesday’s defeat at Elland Road.

Chelsea’s manager Maresca remarked, “We did many bad things.” “Probably we paid the price for a 10-player game against Arsenal that lasted an hour. ”

The Italian made five adjustments for the game at Leeds, one of which was criticized for his rotation policy.

Wesley Fofana and Moises Caicedo were not selected for the starting lineup, and Pedro Neto, the team’s captain, was given a suspension.

Maresca claimed, however, that his hand had been forced.

The reason the other one is unable to play is why the majority of our rotation happens, he said. Players are currently unable to play every three days, so we have them.

And for this reason, we have performed the majority of the rotation in the past.

When you pick 11 players and win, everything is fine. It’s always the reason you pick 11 players and don’t win.

Going to Leeds is undoubtedly not the best scenario for us because we played with 10 players for an hour against Arsenal on Sunday. ”

Before Chelsea’s Saturday game against Bournemouth, Marcesca was questioned about whether his young side needed some experience.

No one mentioned experienced players when we lost to Barcelona and drew against Arsenal, he said, despite the fact that we always talked about them when we lose to them.

William Troost-Ekong, the captain of Nigeria, has left international football after being selected in the Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) provisional squad, which is scheduled to begin on December 21.

Ekong, who has been a member of the Super Eagles since 2015, made the announcement in a message on his X handle on Thursday night.

He stated in the video post, “Today, I am announcing my retirement from international football.”

Troost-Ekong, who was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Nigerian father, praised the honor of representing the three-time African champions.

APPRECIATED GREATFUL . A SUPER EAGLE EVER

The greatest blessing of my life has been playing for Nigeria. My support won’t always be there, though the journey may come to an end.

The chapter will begin now. pic. twitter.com/qt7MoMZHiW

READ ALSO: FIFA Gives Clubs an Extra Week Before Announcering AFCON Stars

The defender expressed gratitude for being a “part of the group that demonstrated that it is possible to play and represent our beloved nation.”

However, he claimed that the “time has come to pass on the responsibility, to pass on the opportunity, to pass on the captaincy.”

The footballer thanked the “past and present who have participated in my international journey,” as well as the fans, teammates, and coaches of Nigeria.

“The heart of Nigerian football, to all you Nigerian fans. You have supported me through every challenge and high. The player said, “I will stand with you as you did for me.”

About two days after being added to Nigeria’s 54-man provisional list for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), he retired.

Also available: Full List of Nigeria’s Provisional AFCON Squad, Boniface, Uzoho, and Iheanacho.

During Stephen Kesshi’s time as Nigeria’s coach, Troost-Ekong made his Super Eagles debut in 2015 against Chad in an AFCON qualifier.

The defender helped the team under Samson Siasia, who was represented by Nigeria at the Rio Olympics, capture the bronze medal in football the following year.

The Super Eagles’ “Oyinbo Wall” tag, which honors his impressive defensive partnership, was given to him by his partnership with Leon Balogun.

The Al-Kholood defensive strongman featured for the Super Eagles at the 2018 edition of the competition in Russia despite playing a significant role in Nigeria’s failed bid to win the 2026 World Cup.

He led the team to a second-place finish at the 2024 edition in Cote d’Ivoire where he became known as the Player of the Competition after taking bronze with Nigeria at the AFCON in Egypt a year later.