World Cup 2026, in major danger! Donald Trump and the decisions that could shake the entire competition
This year's World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, marking the first time in history that the tournament is held in three countries simultaneously.
Donald Trump Photo/psmag
From an organizational and infrastructural point of view, everything seems set for a huge success, but there are several geopolitical factors that raise questions and make the scenario of a major disaster unfortunately plausible.
Donald Trump escalates tensions between the US, Canada and Mexico
In the context in which the United States, Canada and Mexico should collaborate closely to organize the World Cup in 2026, Donald Trump has contributed to the deterioration of relations between these countries through controversial statements and positions. The American president has repeatedly issued harsh messages to his neighbors, going so far as to speak publicly in recent months about the possibility of annexing Canada and turning it into the 51st state of the United States, statements that have provoked strong international reactions.
The situation is equally tense in the relationship with Mexico. Trump is known for his radical speech against migration, being the promoter of the idea of building a massive wall on the southern border of the United States, a project launched since his first term. In addition, he has made extremely harsh statements over time, suggesting that people trying to cross the border illegally should be dealt with harshly by US law enforcement, which has further heightened the climate of tension between the two states.
US military risk in Mexico and Colombia after Venezuela
After the unprecedented US military operation in Venezuela, in which US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, the idea of similar interventions in other Latin American countries, such as Mexico, Cuba and Colombia, has resurfaced in public discussions in the US. The operation in Venezuela has been justified by the Trump administration, in large part, by the fight against drug trafficking to the United States, an issue often invoked by the White House leader when criticizing governments in the region.
The Americans could also intervene in Iran
Iran, who qualified for the 2026 World Cup, will play in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. In recent weeks, there have been violent protests in Tehran against the theocratic leadership, with the aim of restoring the former monarchy. The brutal crackdown on the demonstrations has left more than 12,000 dead, raising the question of possible US intervention to ensure a controlled transfer of power.
The Iranian regime is a historic adversary of the US and one of Vladimir Putin's most important allies in the Ukraine war, along with China and North Korea, and there have been direct tensions in the past that fueled talk of a possible military conflict between Washington and Tehran.
Trump is not giving up on Greenland, and Denmark is playing for its place at the World Cup
Donald Trump continues to show interest in Greenland, a territory administered by Denmark, maintaining diplomatic tensions related to its possible annexation. In parallel, the Danish national team is preparing for the 2026 World Cup qualification play-off after finishing 2nd in the European qualifying group and not qualifying directly.
In March, Denmark will play in the semi-finals against North Macedonia, and in the event of a win, they will face the winner of the duel between the Czech Republic and Ireland for the tickets to the final tournament. If the Nordics manage to qualify, their presence at the World Cup could add a new dimension to tensions in the region, given American interest in Greenland and the delicate geopolitical context created by Trump's ambitions.
The visa issue threatens fans. Even Brazil could be affected
One of the main obstacles for the 2026 World Cup is the visa policy imposed by the Trump administration. Recently, US officials announced that they will temporarily suspend visas for citizens of 75 countries, 15 of which have qualified teams for the final tournament. If the measure remains in force, supporters of these national teams will not be able to watch live matches at the stadium, affecting their attendance at the competition held on US soil.
Targeted countries include Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Colombia, Iran, Egypt, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia, Uruguay, Scotland, Algeria, Cape Verde Islands and Ivory Coast. The US State Department is expected to formalize this decision on January 21, according to the Daily Mail.
