Donald Trump enters his World Cup era

In this week’s failure line column, Jon Allsop is filling out for Jay Caspian Kang.

In 2017, when the United States, Canada and Mexico jointly applied for the 2026 edition of the Men’s Football World Cup – the largest sporting event on the planet – their bid came with three buzzwords: “Unity. Deterministic. Opportunity. Opportunity.” World Cup, their official one”Bid book“It is the greatest celebration of human solidarity in movement anywhere on Earth”; these three possible owners show that they are “more than neighbors” – they are “companions.” They also promise “integrity, transparency, responsibility and full support for fair competition” and promise to embrace “respect for human rights and respect for fundamental freedoms and values.” At the time, Donald Trump Just took office. His Muslim travel ban is inconsistent with luxurious rhetoric. He also appears to threaten retaliation against any country that is blocking bidding. In the section titled “Political Information,” the bid admits that the United States is “polarized” and its image may have “suffered” overseas, but insists that “most people in the world” still view it positively. Moreover, due to term limits, Trump cannot serve as president in 2026.

The bid was successful, but the football official behind the football official in Philadelphia InquirerWill be bound explain Recently, it’s obvious that Grover Cleveland has never been heard of. Last month, during Trump’s Memorial Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery, he said that in some ways, he was glad he did not serve continuously, from 2021 to 2025, as he would not serve in the World Cup, and there were other important events. “Now look at what I have,” he said. “I have everything.” A few weeks ago, at a public meeting of the Trump World Cup Program Task Force FIFA“The United States will welcome the world,” said the vice president JD Vance The tournament is predicted to showcase “the best in sports and in hospitality as well as in the United States of America.”

These Sunshine statements are included in the promotion as editing video The meeting posted by Trump on social media, but the video did not show Vance’s next words: “Everyone is welcome to see this incredible event”, but “when the time comes, they have to go home,” otherwise they have to compete with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. At the time, Trump warned that if any protesters fail to act in a “reasonable way”, they will have to answer Attorney General Pam Bondi, who, given Trump’s sinisterness, would have to answer the tape. Military Response arrive Protest this week In Los Angeles, the first World Cup game and seven other games will be held in the United States, including the quarterfinals.

The crackdown has been added to an ever-increasing list of potential complications, with observers foreseeing traction games, such as the idea that Trump might rename the trophy to the “Roy Cohn Cup”, that is highly reasonable or already relevant: long-term visa waiting time, which is exacerbated by the long time of visas. Doge Cuts (for “certainty” so much); horror stories at the border lead to travel floating; Trump’s Widespread repression Regarding immigration, including this week’s effective, his new, far-reaching travel ban (so many “opportunities”); tariff-induced price uncertainty has led to a severely plagued relationship between the United States and its co-hosts (very suitable for “unity”). Infantino seemed to speak the terms “Canada” and “Mexico” at the planning meeting, as if it were an afterthought. “That’s how it should be,” Trump noted and said, with human rights groups stating concerns about the treatment of the LGBTQ community and the press. Some people called for boycott. The tournament has received all sorts of unflattering nicknames: “Trade War World Cup”; “The First World Cup of the United States”;Magazine World Cup”; “Donald Trump World Cup”.

The game can easily become a disaster. But it also seems reasonable to have all the concerns Trump will burst with, or at least find a way to sweep them under the carpet. (Many authoritarian systems use sporting events to execute functions for the world. Immigration law enforcement. Whatever happens next, the World Cup is a suitable lens through which Trump’s approach to the world can be understood because of Trump’s second Trump doctrine. And if the country he runs out of the idealistic language of bid books, that could make More Similar to other modern World Cup hosts, not less.

In March, at a different meeting with the White House Infantino, Trump suggested that the United States had never held the World Cup before. But it was back in 1994. I don’t remember the game – I was one year old at the time – but as far as I know, the main source of pre-controversy is the lack of popularity of football in the United States, and the event itself is the most memorable for Diana Ross, which is the most memorable for Diana Ross. penalty At the opening ceremony (although OJ Simpson Bronco Chase, which took place later the same day, the fading Argentine superstar Diego Maradona was sent home after a drug test failed. By far the darkest moment was not in American land, but in Colombia, where Andrés Escobar was murdered after returning to his goal, which helped to eliminate his country.

In the establishment of the next World Cup, Trump’s immigration policy sometimes clashed very directly with the football world. After deportation Hundreds of Venezuelans One of them appeared in a brutal large prison in El Salvador, Jerce Reyes Barrios, who had been a professional goalkeeper until he moved to the United States. Officials are clearly interpreted as evidence of his brutal gang members, the tattoo is actually a top theme representing Spanish football Real Madrid. In April, women’s players from Venezuela and Zambia played for club teams in the United States and did not leave the country to represent their national team, which is uncertainty about whether they can return to the national team. Then, last week, Trump announced that Trump announced restrictions on all or part of travel for nineteen countries, several of which may qualify for the 2026 World Cup. (Iran is already eligible.) The measure includes clear exemptions to World Cup team players, employees and “direct relatives”. However, supporters do not seem to have any such exceptions. Regardless of the specific details, the order is closely related to the promise of a public, enthusiastic game. It represents Trump’s American priority and reminds me of Aaron Timms Posing exist guardian Earlier this year, he asked whether football could “continue to be a global force in the world.”

Radical nativism is the core plank of Trump’s worldview, but his attitude toward foreign affairs is more complex than that of individuals. Although his instinct may be more isolated than his recent predecessor’s, he still seems to see himself as a major role in the world, crossing the competition of the country, mainly based on self-interest, but it is also Trump, because this is Trump, the winner with whom he has the victory. Get his favor and the performance of the loser th In front of the camera. The World Cup also illuminates this dynamic, and may even be a useful metaphor. When asked how our tensions with Canada and Mexico affected the game in March, Trump suggested they were “more exciting”, adding that “tough is a good thing.” After learning that Russia was banned from playing in May, Trump said reversing the ban could be a “good motivation” to encourage the country to achieve peace with Ukraine. And, while no one remembers Bill Clinton’s 1994 World Cup, Trump already claims ownership of the 2026 edition. Leander Schaerlaeckens, writing exist guardianIt can even be predicted that it will be “from the glory of Benito Mussolini’s rule in the 1934 World Cup in Italy.”

Trump’s foreign policy depends not only on his nobleness, but on his financial interests. His first foreign trip has announced an astronomical investment deal since returning to the office and has been haunted by news that he agreed to accept the luxury planes in Qatar, even some of his stubborn supporters seem to see it as a bold act of corruption. Among those on the trip was Infantino, who, besides his business directly related to the World Cup, built a warm friendship with Trump. (He also attended the inauguration ceremony in January.) Infantino is late FIFA Participated in Congress in Paraguay for his participation in Gulf Junket, leading European football officials to accuse him of prioritizing his “private political interests”, but there are some football-related things to attend, including the ritual of moving the World Cup from former host Qatar to the United States. Indeed, if the United States reaches the Gulf Hub under Trump, FIFA Do something very similar; Qatar (Qatar) sports Scene. It was far from the 1990s when countries outside the World Cup outside the United States were Italy and France. There is also a metaphor.

Various foreign policy commentators have tried to shed light on Trump’s doctrine in recent weeks. I think it’s still hazy and Trump may not be coherent enough to get this illustrative treatment, but what he said in Saudi Arabia last month was probably the best distillation to date. “In recent years, too many U.S. presidents have suffered from the notion that our job is to investigate the souls of foreign leaders and use American policies to allocate justice to their sins,” he said. “I believe sitting in judgment is God’s work. My job [is] Defend the United States and promote the fundamental interests of stability, prosperity and peace. “A lot has changed since the beginning of Trump’s first term, but the buzzword is still one-third.

During Trump’s first trip to the Bay, in 2017, he spoke in a similar way. At that time, FIFADespite all topics about core values, it has faced loud criticism for granting the World Cup to Qatar, which persecuted dissidents and LGBTQ people, while immigrant workers died in preparation for the venue. In 2022, when That game Ultimately, Intantino lashed out in the commentator, which was the most confusing remark of the gesture of solidarity – “Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel an immigrant worker. But what Infantino said after this may be more statistic: “For what we Europeans have done around the world over the past three thousand years, we should be Next Three thousand years ago before starting moral lessons to people. “Call it is called the Infantino theory♦