Who are the Village People? Explaining the World Cup draw performers loved by Donald Trump originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The 2026 World Cup is months out. But the intrigue is already here, swept across the United States, Mexico and Canada as the famous tournament readies for its first trek to North America since 1994.FIFA is embracing the spotlight ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw. FIFA president Gianni Infantino already hinted that he would award a peace prize to “close friend” Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the site of the festivities, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, is under scrutiny from Senate Democrats — some of whom launched a probe into allegations of cronyism and corruption within on of the nation’s foremost art institutes.Kevin Hart and Heidi Klum will be hosting the event. There’s even a live band for the showcase, one whose refrain has become all-too-familiar at sporting events over the years.With that, here’s what you need to know about the Village People, the musical act enlisted to perform during Friday’s World Cup draw.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsWho are the Village People?The Village People are an American disco group that found success throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The group’s name pays homage to Greenwich Village, the Manhattan neighborhood that served as a hub of gay life in the 1970s.The group was the brainchild of French composers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo. The duo washed ashore in New York City after releasing a string of successful songs in Europe. The two were introduced to Victor Willis, a Dallas-born vocalist whose booming voice caught Morali’s ear.The group was born. It needed additional members to round out its ranks, though. Morali and Willis enlisted a motley crew of dancers to bring the collective to life. There was Alex Briley, a lanky fellow outfitted in military fatigues. Morali sought Felipe Rose, a hoofer of Native American descent who worked at a BDSM club in Chelsea. Mark Mussler, Dave Forrest and Lee Mouton rounded out the original composition of the group, masquerading as a construction worker, cowboy and leatherman, respectively.MORE: Explaining the FIFA Peace Prize rumored to be set to be awarded to Donald TrumpVillage People were shaped by the environment that surrounded them — namely the gay community that breathed life into Greenwich Village’s thoroughfares. Multiple members of the original group were gay. They donned colorful outfits that were commonplace at the time. But they did so while expressing a passionate desire for queer liberation.Here’s what the BBC’s Jack King had to say about the group in a 2020 retrospective:I was fascinated by the empowerment I felt from Village People, the title track on their eponymous debut album, and an unambiguous call for gay liberation that sounds more akin to a protest chant than a chart topper. It lit a fire in my gut in a way few queer artworks have before. And all this from the Village People?MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:Who will win the World Cup in 2026?Updated FIFA World RankingsHow World Cup qualifying worksExplaining the expanded World Cup bracketFull list of teams to qualify for 2026 World CupHow old are the Village People?Most of the original Village People are out of the group. Some passed away, while others have moved onto different ventures. Only Willis remains, lending his smooth voice with a new cast of characters. He is 74 years old.MORE: Which countries can still qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?Village People songs, lyrics”Y.M.C.A.”With more than 12 million copies sold worldwide, “Y.M.C.A.” is the Village People’s biggest hit. The song was the only single from the group’s third album, “Cruisin.'” It features a famous chorus paying tribute to the YMCA, which offered single rooms to tenants fleeing precarious living situations. The YMCA was also considered a safe space for younger gay men to hookup — a reputation that Willis and Co. appear to embrace on the tune.MORE: Controversy at heart of FIFA’s decision to host World Cup draw at Kennedy CenterSuffice to say, the song is remembered fondly. It swirls in stadiums across the world, was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry.Here are its lyrics:Young man, there’s no need to feel down.I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.I said, young man, ’cause you’re in a new townThere’s no need to be unhappy.Young man, there’s a place you can go.I said, young man, when you’re short on your dough.You can stay there, and I’m sure you will findMany ways to have a good time.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.They have everything for young men to enjoy,You can hang out with all the boys…It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,You can do whatever you feel…Young man, are you listening to me?I said, young man, what do you wanna be?I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.But you got to know this one thing!No man does it all by himself.I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,And just go there, to the Y.M.C.A.I’m sure they can help you today.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.They have everything for young men to enjoy,You can hang out with all the boys…It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal,You can do whatever you feel…Young man, I was once in your shoes.I said, I was down and out with the blues.I felt no man cared if I were alive.I felt the whole world was so jive…That’s when someone came up to me,And said, “Young man, take a walk up the street.There’s a place there called the ‘Y.M.C.A.’They can start you back on your way.”It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.They have everything for young men to enjoy,You can hang out with all the boys…Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.Young man, young man, there’s no need to feel down.Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.Young man, are you listening to me?Young man, young man, what do you wanna be?Y.M.C.A.You’ll find it at the Y.M.C.A.No man, young man, does it all by himself.Young man, young man, put your pride on the shelf,Y.M.C.A.And just go to the Y.M.C.A.Young man, young man, I was once in your shoes.Young man, young man, I was down with the blues.Y.M.C.A.It’s fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.”Macho Man”While not quite the phenomenon “Y.M.C.A” was, “Macho Man” was actually the Village People’s first track to land on the Billboard Top 100, peaking at No. 25 in September 1978.MORE: FIFA ranking for every nation at the 2026 World CupThe song references the exaggerated machismo the group attempted to poke fun at. It’s sexy yet comedic, a testament to Village People’s praxis.Body, wanna feel my body,body, baby, such a thrill, my bodyBody, wanna touch my body,body, baby, it’s too much, my bodyBody, check it out, my body, body,baby, don’t you doubt, my bodyBody, talking about my body, body,baby, checking out my bodyListen hereEvery man wants to be a macho manTo have the kind of body always in demandJoggin’ in the mornings, go man goWorkouts in the health spa, muscles growYou can best believe meHe’s a macho manGlad he took you down with anyone you canHey, hey, hey, hey, heyMacho, macho manI gotta be a macho manMacho macho manI gotta be a machoMacho, macho manI gotta be a macho manMacho macho manI gotta be a machoBody, its so hot, my body,Body, love to pop my body,Body, love to please my body,Body, don’t you tease my body,Body, you’ll adore my body,Body, come explore my body,Body, made by God, my body,Body, it’s so good, my bodyYou can tell a macho, he has a funky walkhis western shirts and leather, always look so bossFunky with his body, he’s a kingcall him Mister Ego, dig his chainsYou can best believe that, he’s a macho manlikes to be the leader, he never dresses grandHey! Hey! Hey, hey, hey!Macho, macho manI’ve got to be, a macho manMacho, macho manI’ve got to be a macho! (all right)Macho, macho man (yeah, yeah)I’ve got to be, a macho manMacho, macho manI’ve got to be a macho! All Right!Body, my body, body, wanna feel my bodyBody, baby, body, body, come and thrill my bodyBody, baby, body, body, love to funk, my bodyBody, baby, body, body, it’s so hot, my bodySo hot, yeah my bodyAllrightEvery man ought to be a macho, macho manTo live a life of freedom, machos make a standHave your own lifestyles and idealsPossess the strength of confidence, that’s the skillYou can best believe that he’s a macho manHe’s the special god son in anybody’s landhey, hey, hey, hey, heyMacho, macho manI gotta be a macho manMacho macho manI gotta be a machoMacho, macho manI gotta be a macho manMacho macho manI gotta be a machoMacho, macho manI gotta be a macho manMacho macho manI gotta be a machoI gotta be a macho manI gotta be a mucho mucho, macho macho manI gotta be a machoWhen did YMCA song come out?”Y.M.C.A.” was recorded and released in 1978. Its music video — which featured Willis and Co. dancing while extolling the virtues of the YMCA — was filmed in New York City in July 1978. The song hit the charts shortly after its release, aided by the Sept. 1978 release of Village People’s third album, “Cruisin.'”By 1979, the song sat at No. 2 on the Billboard charts, bested only by Chic’s “Le Freak” and Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.” In the United Kingdom, the tune did one better, taking the top spot on the singles chart.MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:Last time the World Cup was in United StatesRevisiting the first World Cup in 1930Most World Cup wins by countryFuture World Cup locations for 2030 and beyondGuide to host countries, cities for 2026 World CupDonald Trump YMCA danceWhile “Y.M.C.A.” lends much of its popularity to the gay enclaves that specked Greenwich Village in the 1970s, it has been cosigned by a surprising figure in recent years. President Donald Trump has made the song a fixture in his public appearances.When the song comes on, Trump enters a trance, moving his body in a gesture that vaguely resembles a dance. The choreography sees him flail his arms while trying to shake his hips.The move has been invoked by a number of onlookers, including UFC fighter Jon Jones, Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and more. There’s a non-zero chance Trump, who is expected to attend Friday’s World Cup draw, will attempt the trademark waltz in front of FIFA representatives.