By: Imani Adesanya
The election of convicted felon Donald Trump to be the 47th President of the United States has consequences for states and citizens around the world. Whilst some congratulated Mr Trump on his historic victory, many global leaders are concerned about what a second Trump term means for their countries. There has been much discussion about the implications of this election on international relations, but it also has a significant impact on world sports.
It is often argued that politics should be kept out of sports, but in reality, the two are intertwined. Sports have historically been a platform for political expression and societal change, making it nearly impossible to separate them entirely. With the US set to host the 2025 Club World Cup, the 2026 men’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, it will be at the centre of the sporting world during Trump’s second term meaning that his policies and leadership will inevitably shape the global perception of these events.
Tournaments like these are often celebrations of culture, diversity, and inclusion – values that arguably stand in contrast to what Trump represents. Throughout his election campaign, Trump spewed anti-immigration rhetoric, promising the mass deportation of undocumented migrants, and to complete the building of a wall along the country’s southern border. As the US is set to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico (and Canada), these policies could complicate collaboration as they are likely to increase diplomatic tensions with Mexico.
During his first term as President, Trump imposed a travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries. A policy like this would no doubt cause concerns among fans from these countries who wish to travel to the US to watch their country participate in the World Cup. Whilst Trump previously reassured FIFA that fans of teams that qualified would be allowed to enter the US, his promise to restore the controversial “Muslim travel ban” raises concern about the potential restrictions on fans, players, and officials.
Despite this, FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino, known to be close to Trump, seemed pleased by his return to office. “Congratulations Mr President! We will have a great FIFA World Cup and a great FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America! Football Unites the World!”, he wrote on social media. This suggests the FIFA president is optimistic about Trump and does not consider his divisive and inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants to be of particular concern.
Many people, however, will continue to be concerned about their prospects of being able to go to the World Cup. Current wait times for visa interviews run into several hundred days for those applying from some of the nations likely to qualify for the tournament. With Trump vowing to reduce immigration, wait times will most likely get longer. Given Trump’s rhetoric and what he represents, many people might choose not to attend these events as a matter of principle.
The issue of human rights may also come into play. During the last FIFA World Cup, many people criticised Qatar’s alleged violations of human rights, and specifically migrant worker rights. However, many also accused the media of Western hypocrisy arguing that similar scrutiny tends to be absent when Western nations host major events, despite their own human rights issues or controversial policies.
Trump is a convicted felon and has been described by organisations like Vox as a threat to democracy. This may lead many to question the US as a host nation in the same way they questioned Qatar. Also, his agenda contradicts some of the pledges outlined in FIFA’s 2026 Human Rights Framework. The framework highlights a commitment to support different groups, including women, ethnic minorities, disabled people, immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, migrant workers, LGBTQ+ people, and journalists. These are all sections of society that Trump has attacked either through his rhetoric or his policy.
Trump’s reelection raises many questions with the success and inclusivity of upcoming global sporting events being among the most significant. Ultimately, the success of this tournament will depend not only on the ability to deliver world-class entertainment but also on fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and collaboration.
