Peace, love and harmony: three countries joining forces in a “United Bid” to roll out the welcome mat for the most popular sporting carnival on the planet, a beacon of hope in a polarised world.
“But ... we believe this is a hugely positive signal and symbol of what we can do together in unifying people, especially in our three countries.”
While Trump has been a staunch backer of the World Cup from the outset, the US leader has nevertheless taken a combative stance to co-hosts Mexico and Canada since returning to the White House, from trade wars to border crackdowns, while simultaneously calling for Canada to become the “cherished 51st state” of the US.
- ‘Tension’s a good thing’ -
“Tension’s a good thing, I think it makes it much more exciting,“ Trump said in March when asked how his administration’s tariffs against Canada and Mexico might affect the World Cup.
Figures from the US government’s National Travel and Tourism Office released in April found an 11.6% decline in visits to the US from overseas in March compared to a year earlier.
But, Zimbalist added, “in terms of the actual playing of the games, the tariffs don’t affect athletes.”
- ‘Seamless experience’ for fans? -
“Will soccer fans really want to crisscross our borders right now - and be squinted at by guards simply because they speak a Romance language or risk being held on a cold floor in a detention cage?,“ Washington Post columnist Sally Jenkins asked recently.
Vice President JD Vance though cautioned that foreign visitors would have to leave at the end of the tournament.
“We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. But when the time is up, they’ll have to go home.”
“I think the US and the Trump administration will go out of their way to try and make that process as smooth as possible,“ Zerafa told AFP.
“Those two things are very difficult to co-exist, and which one is going to win the day? I can certainly envisage examples of fans applying for tickets, but not being granted visas. And you only need a couple of those stories to emerge in the runup to the World Cup to start painting a difficult backdrop for FIFA and the US.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Trump trade, immigration policies clouding World Cup preparations )
Also on site :