Our Tariffs Row With Canada, Mexico Will Make World Cup ‘More Exciting’ Says Trump
Photo credit: White House
Olufemi Orunsola
The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has said that the political and economic tensions between the United States and its 2026 World Cup co-hosts Canada and Mexico will not affect the tournament negatively, rather it would make it "more exciting".
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reliably gathered from the BBC and other international media sources that Trump made this view known while speaking alongside Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, at the signing of an executive order to establish a taskforce that will oversee preparations for the tournament.
OTN News reports that Trump, who has recently imposed tariffs – taxes charged on goods imported from other countries, especially on the United States’ two neighbours, Canada and Mexico, when asked how he saw the World Cup playing out, given the current trade situation between the three nations, simply said: “I think it’s going to make it more exciting."
"Tension’s a good thing, I think it makes it much more exciting," the US President added.
At the start of the week, Trump confirmed that he was moving forward with 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada.
In the days that followed, the Trump administration announced that it would be temporarily sparing carmakers from the import levies.
The next day, the president signed an executive order that placed a number of other exemptions on various goods.
OTN News further gathered that Donald Trump is expected to chair the task force, which will “co-ordinate with federal agencies in planning, organising and executing” the tournament.
Forty-eight teams will compete in the expanded World Cup in 2026.
Eleven of the 16 host cities are in the United States, with Toronto and Vancouver in Canada also set to stage matches, as will Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.
Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will host the opening match on 11 June with the final being played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July.
The United States will also host the 2025 Club World Cup in June and July.
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