President Donald Trump has pushed international trade relations and markets into a state of uncertainty with recent tariff statements, but he also believes that they will improve the excitement the 2026 World cup.
At a press conference on Friday in the Oval Office With FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump was asked how the current trade tensions, especially with Canada and Mexico, which are the other guest countries in the US in 2026, can influence the World Cup.
“I think it will make it more exciting,” said Trump. “Tension is a good thing, it makes it much more exciting.”
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President Donald Trump and FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) President Gianni Infantino Talk in the Oval Office of the White House after signing an executive order for a Task Force related to the FIFA World Cup, in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP)
This week, the Trump administration imposed 25% rates on goods from Canada and Mexico, but then announced a postponement of a month for both countries that are in accordance with a North American trading pact for both countries.
The exemptions for the two largest US trading partners will expire on 2 April. Trump has also threatened to impose a global regime of mutual rates on all American trading partners.
When Trump announced rates on Mexico and Canada for the first time at the beginning of February, he delayed them a month after the elaboration of similarities with both countries to help secure the northern and southern border.
However, the tension of the incident still spilled in sport during the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off Exhibition Tournament from 12 to 20 February. Fans in Canada fascinated the American national anthem, while in the US fans held the Canadian national anthem for several games.
It started on February 13, when Canadian fans in Montreal held the American national anthem after President Donald Trump’s recent threats to impose rates on Canada, while the country also suggests that the country should become the 51st state of America.
The United States Vooruit Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada Forward Brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4-country face-off ice hockey game in the Bell Center. (Eric Bolte imagn images)
The Booing led to a flurry of fights between Canadian and American players in the first meeting of the tournament between the two teams on 15 February. The US won that match 3-1.
The Canadian national anthem was then booed in TD Garden in Boston for a game of 4 nations between Canada and Finland.
The US and Canada then met in the final on February 20, and American fans in Boston again fascinated the Canadian national anthem, albeit with a lighter tone. Canada won the game in the extension, 3-2.
Since then, the hostile rhetoric between the two countries, including sport, has only escalated. NHL -Games with teams based in Canada and the US have often characterized Booing during pre-game National folk songs of the visiting team.
Fans with WWE -Elimination room In Toronto, “The Star-Spangled Banner” fascinated last Saturday evening prior to the event. Star sports commentator Pat McAfee has loudly closed the Canadian fans for Booing, and the country as a whole, in response during the Peacock broadcast.
“It’s a bit bad that it is in the terrible land of Canada that our national anthem has spoken to start this whole thing,” McAfee shouted at the temporary employment table.
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US President Donald Trump, together with President of Fédération Internationale, speaks the Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino after unveiling the World Cup Trophy of 2025 Club in the Oval Office in the White House in the White House on Washington, DC for Trump for Trump for Trump, of President for the President for the President of President, President -President for the President of President -President for the President -President, Van President, Van President -President, Van President, Van President -President -President -President for Presidente -President -President -President -President 2026 World Cup. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty images)
McAfee has since said he did that Receive death threats Against his daughter for the comments.
Canadian men’s football coach Jesse Marsch shot Trump for his “51st state” notices and called them “Wednesday” offensive “. During Concacaf Nations League Media Day, Marsch said that he” ashamed “about how Canada was offended by the president.
“If I have one message to our president, the ridiculous rhetoric is fired over Canada, who is the 51st state,” said Marsch. “As an American, I am ashamed of the arrogance and the contempt that we have shown one of our historic oldest, strongest and most loyal allies. But one thing is certain: if I look out in a month, this will feed our team. The mentality we have, the will we have to play for our country.”
NHL legend Wayne Gretzky was also criticized by colleague cars for his apparent support for Trump. Trump recently said that he had asked Gretzky to become the next “Governor of Canada” after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he would resign.
But after Gretzky had expressed support for “Canada who remained a separate country, instead of becoming a cherished and beautiful 51st state”, Trump declared Gretzky a ‘free agent’.
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