Fifa World Cup: What does president Donald Trump’s foreign policy mean for USA 2026
Some believe the situation for the sports community could become even more difficult depending on Trump’s next moves.
“Fifa and the IOC may be heading for a major headache,” according to John Zerafa, senior advisor to countries and cities looking to host major sporting events.
“The statutes of both organizations emphasize peace, respect for sovereignty and non-discrimination.
“In the case of Russia, this has led to bans and restrictions on athletes and teams. If, in a worst-case scenario, the US used force against Greenland, a NATO ally, would the same principles apply? Would Denmark boycott the World Cup if it qualified for the play-offs? Would European or NATO leaders refuse to attend US-hosted events?
“This isn’t just geopolitics. It’s a looming stress test for sporting bodies that pride themselves on their neutrality, but find themselves repeatedly forced to take political positions when international law and conflict collide with global competition.”
Trump’s strict immigration policy may also have an impact on the World Cup, which starts on June 11.
FIFA has promised to stage an inviting and unifying tournament, but there are now four rival nations – Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast – whose fans face full or partial travel bans, and the White House has cited the need to manage security threats.
Meanwhile, domestic tensions in the US intensified after 37-year-old Renee Good was shot by an immigration officer in Minneapolis last week, sparking major protests in the city.
Even before the incident, human rights organizations had claimed that the World Cup had been postponed. The danger of being “armed for authoritarian purposes” is increasing, external and criticized “increasing attacks on immigrants in the United States… and threats to press freedom and the rights of peaceful protesters.”
As FIFA’s biggest-ever tournament approaches, it will be fascinating to see what impact US action abroad will have on ticket sales, cooperation between co-hosts on issues such as security, and whether sports bodies feel they need to do more to navigate a complex geopolitical landscape.
