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Will the US really welcome the world? What Trump 2.0 could mean for World Cup 2026
The co-hosts of football’s biggest event are squabbling and fans wonder if a trip to the US will bring more pain than pleasure.
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US President Donald Trump being shown the new Fifa Club World Cup trophy and official ball on March 7 by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, with US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem looking on.
PHOTO: AFP
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When the US was first announced as one of the host countries for the 2026 World Cup, many football fans – myself included – naturally had the same concern: “Does this mean we have to call the sport ‘soccer’ during the tournament?”
That was, of course, many years ago. The world looked different then. Today, as we contemplate a World Cup that is just over a year away, what Americans might deem to call a sport that predominantly features feet kicking a ball suddenly seems like a trifling concern.
