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The 2026 World Cup task force -

In 2018, the United States, Canada, and Mexico won a joint bid to co-host the FIFA 2026 World Cup. President Donald Trump convened the first meeting of his administration's 2026 World Cup task force on May 6, 2025, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C.

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Creating the task force -

The US president, pictured here flanked by Vice President JD Vance and FIFA President  Gianni Infantino, signed an executive order creating the task force.

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The Club World Cup -

Before the signing ceremony, Gianni Infantino had unveiled the Club World Cup trophy alongside President Trump in the Oval Office. The Club World Cup is being hosted in the United States this year and brings together club teams and many players from continents and cultures.

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Similar but different -

The Club World Cup is the closest thing to the World Cup without it being the actual World Cup of national teams. Twelve stadia across the United States will host the tournament, with a total of 63 matches played across the country throughout June and July 2025.

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Will the US be ready to host the 2026 World Cup? -

The main topic of conversation in the East Room, however, centered around the 2026 World Cup. Questions are being asked about the readiness of the US when it comes to hosting one of the world's most prestigious sporting events.

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Doubts raised about the country's readiness -

President Trump insists the 2026 World Cup will be the "biggest, safest and most extraordinary soccer tournament in history." But numerous doubts have been raised over the last year about the United States' ability to smoothly host the tournament.

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No "tension" -

The US president has denied that there's any "tension" between the three nations that could hamper preparations ahead of the opening game at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.

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Trump and his "51st state" -

Canada and Mexico have both been hit with Trump's trade tariffs. The president has also voiced his desire to make Canada the 51st American state.

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The blame game -

He blames Mexico for drugs and migrants coming north across the border and outsourced jobs going in the other direction.

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Mexico's answer -

For her part, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected an offer from her United States counterpart to send US troops to Mexico to help combat drug trafficking.

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No issues -

Trump has made light of the frequent public spats and panicked negotiations over trade and said there should be no issues in the run-up to the World Cup.

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View of the US Travel Association -

More relevant, perhaps, is the report issued by the U.S. Travel Association that raises concerns about visas, infrastructure, and poor security technology.

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A strain on the air travel system -

A national nonprofit organization, the U.S. Travel Association believes the United States is unprepared for the burdens placed on its air travel system when the country hosts the 2026 World Cup and, later, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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Coping with millions of visitors -

The reports says the US is not ready to host the upcoming mega decade of events that will draw millions of domestic and international travelers.

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The risks posed -

The risks these burdens pose to national security and the effects they could have on economic growth are significant, the report warns.

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Unacceptable visa waiting time -

The U.S. Travel Association has also highlighted visa wait times as a particular problem area. The US visa application is a complicated process. Approval times for some countries that may reach the World Cup—for example, Colombia—are currently running at nearly two years.

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More concerns -

The concerns raised by the U.S. Travel Association are compounded by the mass downsizing by the Trump administration of the US government.

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Department of State and FBI to step in -

The Department of Homeland Security is looking to the Department of State and the FBI to handle visitors' travel documents.

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City-to-city transportation -

The World Cup could also present problems for fans looking to move around within host cities, admitted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Most of the host cities within the United States lack well-developed public transportation options, though inter-city transportation issues would be solved with buses, he added.

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"America will welcome the world" -

During his meeting with President Trump in the White House, Gianni Infantino declared that "America will welcome the world."

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Go home soon -

VP JD Vance then made it very clear that the administration wants the world to come to America... and then go home.

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Overstaying their welcome -

"We want them to watch the game. But when the time is up, they'll have to go home," he said, highlighting the potential of visitors overstaying their welcome.

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Host cities in the US -

The majority of World Cup games will be played in the United States using existing facilities in 11 cities—Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia (pictured), and Miami.

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Host cities in Canada -

North of the border, two cities in Canada—Toronto and Vancouver (pictured)—will host World Cup games.

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Host cities in Mexico -

South of the border, three cities in Mexico—Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City (pictured)—will host World Cup games. Interestingly, Mexico City's Estadio Azteca is the only stadium to host three editions of the FIFA World Cup: in 1970, 1986 and, next year, the 2026 tournament.

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A tournament money spinner -

President Trump claimed that the tournament will generate "tens of billions of dollars in economic activities for local businesses" and "thousands and thousands of jobs for American workers."

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Billions of dollars at stake -

FIFA's president estimated that the combined hosting of this year's Club World Cup and next year's World Cup would generate in the region of US$50 billion in economic output and almost 300,000 jobs.

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Arriving on time -

The main challenge for the Trump administration remains the processing of a huge number of visas for the foreign visitors expected to visit the United States in time for the competition.

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Delayed? -

And with wait times for some visa applications extending for a year or longer, the danger of the Trump administration scoring an embarrassing own goal is quite real.

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Out of bounds -

Meanwhile back in the East Room, Trump was asked for his thoughts on Russia's ban from FIFA competitions as a result of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The president was actually unaware Russia was banned, but Gianni Infantino said that if peace was achieved then the country would be readmitted. 

Sources: (FIFA) (CNN) (The Guardian) (Politico) (ABC News) 

See also: Sporting moments that went down in history

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