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President Donald Trump appeared to threaten countries that oppose a joint 2026 World Cup bid by the U.S., Canada and Mexico in a tweet late Thursday.
“It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?” Trump said.
The stunning implication that nations could pay an economic or political price for not supporting the joint bid appears unprecedented.
Billions of dollars are at stake in a World Cup bid. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil generated $4.8 billion in revenue, compared to $2.2 billion in expenses, according to FIFA, soccer’s governing body.
Morocco is also vying for the 2026 World Cup, although its bid is in jeopardy after a task force from FIFA, recently found its proposal lacking. The North African nation has also been criticized for its human-rights policies.
Delegations from more than 200 countries are scheduled to vote for the 2026 World Cup host on June 13.
The U.S. team did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup, which Russia will host this summer. Qatar is scheduled to host in 2022.
The U.S. last hosted the World Cup in 1994, and Mexico hosted in 1986.