Donald Trump has resumed his presidency, reigniting interest in football, especially within FIFA, due to his past support for the organization. FIFA President Gianni Infantino welcomed Trump’s return, highlighting the upcoming 2026 World Cup in North America and the revamped Club World Cup. Trump’s statements during the bidding process raised eyebrows, yet the North American bid triumphed. With projections of significant profits for FIFA, Trump’s influence on global football events is expected to strengthen once more.
Donald Trump’s Return to Power
Donald Trump is back in the political spotlight as he resumes the presidency of the United States. This news has sparked excitement in the world of football, particularly within FIFA, where Trump’s previous tenure from 2017 to 2021 is remembered for lucrative decisions that benefited the organization.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his enthusiasm, proclaiming, “Congratulations Mr. President!” as he shared nostalgic photos alongside Trump. Infantino assured that under Trump’s leadership, both the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States would be extraordinary events.
Impact on Global Football Events
With Trump’s return, he is poised to capitalize on the groundwork laid during his first term. While the football community focused on the 2018 World Cup in Russia, FIFA made a groundbreaking announcement: the 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, defeating Morocco’s bid. Additionally, the revamped Club World Cup is set to occur in the USA from June 15 to July 13 next year.
The selection process for the 2026 hosts was notably transparent, a shift from FIFA’s traditional secretive bidding practices, spurred by public outcry over previous corrupt elections. Donald Trump didn’t hold back during this process, stating, “It would be a shame if countries that we always support oppose the US bid,” indicating potential repercussions for dissenting nations. He expressed hopes that African countries would back the North American bid, despite the African confederation’s leaning towards Morocco.
FIFA has been tight-lipped about Trump’s statements, despite its laws against political interference. However, the organization stands to gain significantly from hosting the World Cup in North America, with projections of record profits reaching $14 billion, a substantial portion of which would go directly to FIFA.
At the time of the bidding, the German Football Association (DFB) responded diplomatically, with then-president Reinhard Grindel asserting that they were not influenced by Trump’s interventions in their voting process. Ultimately, the North American bid secured 134 votes, while Morocco received 65.
Trump celebrated the outcome, tweeting, “Congratulations – a great result of hard work!” During his absence from the presidency, he continued to make headlines in the football world, particularly through his criticisms of players like Megan Rapinoe, who have openly opposed him. Now, with Trump back in power, it appears that his influence on major football events is set to continue, much to Infantino’s advantage, especially considering the previous administration’s lack of engagement with FIFA.