A presumptive US World Cup bid for the newly expanded 2026 edition is not only widely expected to occur, but widely expected to be the favorite in the bidding process. However, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin told the New York Times that if President Trump imposes a travel ban, the bid would struggle to be successful.
Informal talks are said to have begun between the US, Canada, and Mexico to host the new 48 team tournament now that FIFA President Gianni Infantino has allowed joint bids.
“It will be part of the evaluation, and I am sure it will not help the United States to get the World Cup,” Ceferin said. “If players cannot come because of political decisions, or populist decisions, then the World Cup cannot be played there. It is true for the United States, but also for all the other countries that would like to organise a World Cup.
“It is the same for the fans, and the journalists, of course. It is the World Cup. They should be able to attend the event, whatever their nationality is. But let’s hope that it does not happen.”
Bids must be posted by December of next year and the host will be chosen in May of 2020, though that schedule is subject for change.
The public warning by the President of the most powerful confederation in world football is significant, and the travel ban that was subsequently squashed by the courts caused officials around the world to take notice, since some of the nations included in the ban (such as Iran) have been perennial qualifiers for the World Cup.
Ceferin also said that the potential for more stringent immigration restrictions once Britain leaves the EU could hurt their chances of hosting continental tournaments.
“If ‘Brexit’ happens, everything changes,” Ceferin said. “But football was played before, and it will be played in the future. Now, with free movement in the European Union, it is much better.”
“But if we see that players cannot enter because they have any sort of procedure ongoing, then we will simply think if we should play our European matches there,” he added. “Neymar and Lionel Messi both have procedures going on. This year, the Champions League final is in Cardiff. Imagine if they did not let them in. That is a big thing for us, if players from England can travel anywhere but players from other teams cannot travel to England. With free movement in Europe, it is much better.”
Countries from both Europe and Asia cannot bid on hosting the 2026 World Cup thanks to Russia and Qatar hosting the prior to events, leaving the bidding to CONCACAF, CONMEBAL, CAF, and OFC.
