Donald Trump escalated his feud with FIFA on Wednesday by brandishing a literal red card at the soccer governing body, threatening to pull the United States out of hosting the 2026 World Cup if his demands are not met.
Trump's red card stunt
Speaking at a rally in Miami, the former president held up a red card similar to those used by referees and said: "FIFA, you are getting a red card. You are out of the game if you don't treat the United States with respect." The crowd cheered as he waved the card.
The outburst comes after weeks of tension between Trump and FIFA over the organization's refusal to allow him to speak at the World Cup draw. Trump had demanded a speaking slot, but FIFA declined, citing its policy of political neutrality.
Threat to pull out of World Cup
Trump threatened to withdraw US support for the 2026 tournament, which is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. "We brought the World Cup here, and now they want to silence me? No way. We'll pull out and they can have it somewhere else," he said.
The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to be the first with 48 teams and is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue. The US is set to host 60 of the 80 matches.
FIFA's response
FIFA responded with a statement saying it "remains committed to hosting a successful World Cup in 2026 and will continue to engage with all host nations in a constructive manner." The organization did not directly address Trump's threat.
According to a FIFA spokesperson, the organization has a long-standing policy of not granting speaking roles at official events to political figures, regardless of their stature. "Our focus is on football, not politics," the spokesperson said.
Impact on US soccer
Sports analysts say pulling out of the World Cup would be catastrophic for US soccer and the economy. "The US has already invested billions in infrastructure and marketing for 2026. A withdrawal would be unprecedented and cause massive financial losses," said Dr. Sarah Jenkins, a sports economist at Georgetown University.
The US Soccer Federation declined to comment on Trump's remarks, but sources say officials are privately alarmed. The federation had lobbied heavily to bring the World Cup back to the US for the first time since 1994.
