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U.S. president Donald Trump tweeted Thursday evening about Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup. «The U.S. has put together a STRONG bid With Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup», he wrote.
«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) ?», he argued.
The U.S. has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup. 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)?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 avril 2018
Trump’s tweet shows that North American officials are worried about the significant number of countries wishing to support the Moroccan bid, including nations in Africa, Asia and Europe.
Trump’s threats
Donald Trump’s recent tweet on the 2026 World Cup comes as other voices are denouncing the FIFA’s alleged attempts aiming at preventing the North African Kingdom from reaching the final vote. «Morocco must be allowed to reach the final vote without being disqualified, in order to avoid any questions about the selection», a senior FIFA official from Germany told the Associated Press earlier this week.
This is not the first time that the Republican president uses internet, and most precisely Twitter, to send threats and warnings to rivals, opponents and the international community. In December, and while members of the UN General Assembly were getting ready to vote on the transfer of the American embassy to Jerusalem, Trump warned those who are intending to contradict his decision against the consequences to follow that.
«We’ll save a lot. We don’t care. But this isn’t like it used to be where they could vote against you and then you pay them hundreds of millions of dollars (…) We’re not going to be taken advantage of any longer, let them vote against us», said Donald Trump during a meeting held at the White House.
The American President’s threats did not prevent 128 states from voting against the decision at the UN General Assembly. But would Morocco be able to take advantage of Trump’s recent threats ?
For the record, the vote will take place on the 13th of June in Moscow. The 207 FIFA members will have the right to take part of the event where the winning bid must gather at least 104 votes.
Many countries have announced in the last few months their support for the Moroccan bid. And unlike expectations, even members of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), the continental governing body for association football in North America, which includes Central America and the Caribbean region, have backed the Moroccan bid, including Saint Lucia and the Dominican Republic.
