Donald Trump has reportedly threatened to block an iconic nation from competing at next summer’s 2026 World Cup.
The opening match of the World Cup is just 315 days away, but several huge decisions are yet to be made regarding the participation of several nations.
Currently, 13 teams have secured their spots at next summer’s tournament – Canada, Mexico, USA, Australia, IR Iran, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Korea Republic, Japan, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil and New Zealand – while 35 places are still up for grabs.
Trump was front and centre during Chelsea’s Club World Cup celebrations and stood alongside captain Reece James when he lifted the trophy following the Blues’ emphatic 3-0 victory over Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain in what was an unofficial dress rehearsal for next summer’s showpiece.
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But away from Trump’s at times jovial public front, there are concerns that the World Cup could be plunged into chaos as a result of his strict travel bans.
Council on Foreign Relations reported on June 9 that travel bans were enforced, clamping down on nineteen countries.
Twelve countries – Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, Haiti, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Myanmar, Eritrea, Sudan and Yemen - are fully banned, while seven nations face partial restrictions that were applied, including Venezuela, Cuba, Burundi, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo and Turkmenistan.
On July 31, CNN reported that Trump could ban visas from Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
This could mean that the five-time World Cup winners play without fans from their homeland, although rules do not apply to athletes and coaches.
Dual citizens are also not subject to a ban.
And that’s not all. In April, Trump announced that Brazilian goods imported to the US would face tariffs of 10%. However, he has since raised the rate to 50% amid huge backlash.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva responded in an interview with The New York Times.
“There’s no reason to be afraid,” Lula said. “I am worried, obviously, because we have economic interests, political interests, technological interests. But at no point will Brazil negotiate as if it were a small country up against a big country. Brazil will negotiate as a sovereign country.”
“In politics between two states, the will of neither should prevail,” he added.
“We always need to find the middle ground. This is achieved not by puffing out your chest and shouting about things you can’t deliver, nor by bowing your head and simply saying ‘amen’ to whatever the United States wants.”
Topics: Donald Trump, Football, FIFA
Luke Davies