By Andrew Warshaw
April 30 – In what can only be construed as a rap over the knuckles, FIFA has been quick to clarify its rules of conduct over government interference following last week’s remarkable politically-charged tweet by US President Donald Trump that appeared to violate the 2026 World Cup bid process.
Trump unexpectedly waded into an already controversial campaign by appearing to warn countries who vote against the joint 2026 bid by the US, Canada and Mexico, effectively threatening political or economic repercussions against those who support rivals Morocco.
FIFA’s response has been to bring to Trump’s attention its ethics guidelines and re-emphasise rules that prohibit governments from exerting “undue influence” on the selection of World Cup hosts.
FIFA’s bidding regulations also specifically prohibit those affiliated with a bid “from making any written or oral statements of any kind, whether adverse or otherwise, in relation to the bids of other member associations.”
Improper activities “may adversely affect the integrity of the Bidding Process and create an undue influence on the Bidding Process”, according to the regulations.
The extent to which Trump’s untimely intervention may harm United 2026, whose officials appear to have been taken by surprise, is one of many intriguing questions. A still bruised FIFA is highly sensitive about perceptions of political interference after the corruption scandal that marred the 2018 and 2022 World Cup awards to Russia and Qatar respectively.
The US, Canada and Mexico bid group said in a diplomatic statement: “From the beginning, we have received great support from the Canadian, Mexican and United States governments. We are grateful for that support and together our three countries are ready to welcome players and fans from around the world to an extraordinary FIFA World Cup in 2026.”
Yet with anti-American sentiment picking up globally over some of Trump’s comments and conduct, all three nations have been at pains in recent weeks to distance themselves from the notion that United 2026 is primarily a US-led venture.
In March, former US Soccer president Sunil Gulati stepped down as the bid’s chairman and was replaced by three co-chairs: Canada Soccer president Steven Reed, Mexico Football Federation president Decio de Maria, and new US Soccer president Carlos Cordeiro.
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