The worlds of sport and politics have collided as Donald Trump warns US allies that they must back North America’s bid for the 2026 World Cup - or risk losing the diplomatic support of his country.
As tension grows ahead of that Moscow summit, Trump today hinted that those who vote against the US could face repercussions.
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He tweeted the three countries had put together a “strong” bid, and added: “It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the US bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?”
On paper, the US-Canada-Mexico bid is the strongest, with Morocco their only serious rival, says The Daily Telegraph. However, it is not a clear-cut decision, as Morocco is likely to have strong support from African and Middle Eastern countries.
“The US previously hosted the World Cup in 1994. But just because their bid is the strongest, it doesn't automatically make them the favourites. This is because each Fifa member country receives a vote, no matter their size, which gives disproportionate influence to small nations,” the newspaper says.
And the intervention of the US president could backfire, warns Sky Sports. “Trump’s comments could breach Fifa’s rules on political interference regarding World Cup bids,” according to the broadcaster.
Indeed, Trump’s posturing could even hinder the bid, says news site Politico. “Recent news reports have said the joint North American bid is in peril because of Trump’s rhetoric and a reluctance to grant the US something at a time when the president has supported a travel ban against mostly Muslim countries and reportedly called unspecified African states ‘shithole countries’.”