Gary Lineker has said he could be banned from the 2026 World Cup over comments he made about current US President Donald Trump.
Trump was inaugurated for his second stint in the White House in January, having won November's presidential election over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
He recently brought up 100 days in office but that time has been largely dominated by his controversial tariff system, his golf days and even a major national security scandal involving several senior members of his cabinet.
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Trump is an avid golfer and sports fans, and quickly involved himself in preparations for the 2026 World Cup, of which the United States will be co-hosts alongside Mexico and Canada.
The President described the upcoming World Cup as the 'biggest, safest and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history', and even made an unexpected appearance at the Club World Cup draw last December.
The Trump administration's policies could cause logistical issues surrounding the World Cup, with a provisional travel ban document drawn up by the President earlier this year potentially blocking certain nations from entering the country.
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There has also been major controversy surrounding Elon Musk's involvement at the White House, as well as his running of the Twitter platform he took over in 2022.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Lineker was asked about his views on the current US administration and Musk's running of Twitter, and said: "I was open-minded at the start, but now it's like you've got Bond villains in charge of America."
When asked if he would 'maintain such bold rhetoric' while covering the 2026 World Cup for the BBC, he replied: "Yes... if they let me in."
In 2017, Lineker described Trump's immigration policy as 'downright stupid' during the early days of the American's first presidency.
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And after Trump's win the previous year, Lineker tweeted a picture of the President alongside Nigel Farage and said: "Britain's congratulatory gift for your Presidential victory. And please, it's for life, not just for Christmas."
Meanwhile, he told The Independent in August 2024 that Musk is 'clearly a very odd bloke'.
Topics: Gary Lineker, Match Of The Day, Donald Trump, United States, FIFA World Cup
Ryan Smart