Donald Trump made his feelings clear on Mexico and Canada before he plunged the 2026 World Cup into chaos.
Trump, 78, is the US President and will see his country co-host the 2026 tournament alongside Mexico and Canada.
Concerns have already been raised after the 78-year-old announced tariffs would be imposed on US trading partners.
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This essentially means taxes will be charged on goods imported from other countries such as Mexico and Canada.
The two North American countries will be subjected to 25% tariffs with the likes of China (34%), EU nations (20%), and India (26%) also affected by the announcement.
And with the US set to host arguably the two biggest sporting events – World Cup 2026 and Olympics 2028 – chaos could follow.
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Experts have already explained how competition sponsors such as Korean car manufacturer Hyundai Group could think again before spending millions on sponsoring the event.
"I suspect some sponsors are now re-assessing how they 'activate' such deals in the US, given the trade barriers that have now been imposed," says John Zerafa, a sports event bid strategist who spoke to BBC Sport.
"Why would a sponsor spend millions of pounds doing so if it is now prohibitive to sell in America?"
In early March, Trump gave his honest thoughts on Canada and Mexico and how the political tensions between the countries and the US could impact the World Cup.
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"I think it's going to make it more exciting,” said Trump.
"Tension is a good thing, it makes it much more exciting."
All three nations will take part in the tournament having already qualified as hosts, with 45 other teams set to take part in the expanded competition.
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However, several countries could be banned from the tournament with two already set to miss out due to ‘political reasons’.
Russia has technically been banned from the tournament as they are currently suspended from FIFA-sanctioned tournaments due to their February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, FIFA has suspended FECAFOOT, the governing body of the Republic of the Congo, due to 'third-party interference in its affairs'. Although they are not officially banned from the World Cup as things stand.
Nations on Donald Trump's proposed travel ban list
As reported by the New York Times on March 14, the Trump administration is considering targeting citizens of as many as 43 countries, with proposed travel bans.
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This means nations such as Iran - already qualified for 2026 World Cup - could face issues when entering the US ahead of the tournament. The other countries affected are listed below.
Full visa bans
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- Cuba
- Iran
- Libya
- North Korea
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Venezuela
- Yemen
Partial visa suspensions
- Belarus
- Eritrea (unranked by FIFA, having not played a game since January 2020)
- Haiti
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Pakistan
- Russia (currently suspended by FIFA)
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Turkmenistan
Countries recommended for partial suspension (countries have 60 days to address concerns)
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Dominica
- Equatorial Guinea
- Gambia
- Liberia
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Republic of the Congo
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Vanuatu
- Zimbabwe
Topics: Donald Trump, FIFA, Football
Luke Alfred Davies