On March 7, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a task force to oversee preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The tournament will bring the biggest show in world soccer to North America, but Trump’s announcement comes at a time when his administration’s fluctuating tariff policies have heightened tensions across North America. There is no doubt that the current approach to foreign policy will have damaging impacts on the international soccer tournament, a global event where fans and athletes from diverse nations come together.
Trump has already imposed a 25 percent tariff on various goods from Canada and Mexico, initially set to take effect on Feb. 4 but delayed by a month for further negotiations. Eventually, the tariffs were implemented on March 4, alongside a 10 percent tariff on Canadian energy imports.
Just a week later, on March 11, Trump escalated the dispute by threatening to double tariffs on Canadian metals. This move was in retaliation for Canada’s decision to increase electricity charges for customers in three northern U.S. states — a response to previous U.S. tariffs. However, only hours before the policy was set to take effect, Trump scrapped his tariff plan after Canada agreed to suspend its additional energy charges.
Trump’s tariff policies stirred criticism from both Canada and Mexico. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Trump’s sweeping tariffs as “a very dumb thing to do” and pledged to fight tirelessly to protect Canada’s economy. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also slammed the tariffs, calling them unjustified and vowing countermeasures.
Mr. Trump, meanwhile, held a different view on his controversial decisions. “I think it’s going to make it more exciting,” Trump remarked regarding the event taking place amid sharp rhetoric between leaders. “Tension’s a good thing,” he continued.
Economists warn that the dispute on tariffs could drive up consumer prices in the U.S., particularly on food and energy imports, while straining relations with America’s top trading partners. “This is kind of sticking your finger in the eye of your neighbor,” claimed economist John Rogers, who — like many experts — argued that in the U.S.-Canada-Mexico trade war, “everybody is a loser.”
The organizers of the World Cup seem to have a different perspective, however. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized that every visitor from around the world will “feel safe, feel happy, and feel that we are doing something special.” “We’re here to create and deliver the greatest show on the planet,” Infantino said. He then presented Trump with a personalized game ball and unveiled the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup trophy in the Oval Office on March 7.
But strict U.S. visa policies have raised concerns that legitimate ticket holders could be denied entry. The task force, chaired by Trump with Vice President J.D. Vance as vice chair, offers no concrete plans to reduce visa wait times or secure funding. Meanwhile, host cities are pushing for federal support to cover security costs.
In addition to the tariffs, Trump’s statements also caused disputes and discontent. For example, since his comments about Canada becoming “the 51st state,” Canadian fans have protested against this annexation proposal by booing the U.S. national anthem at N.H.L. and N.B.A. games. In Montreal on Feb. 15, the latest incident took place before the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the U.S. and Canada. The booing lasted throughout warrant officer David Grenon’s performance with the Royal Canadian Air Force Band.
International sports have always been political. In 1971, Ping Pong Diplomacy helped thaw U.S.-China relations, paving the way for President Nixon’s historic visit to Beijing. Decades later, at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, North and South Korea marched under a unified flag, signaling a rare moment of cooperation between two deeply divided nations. The capacity of international sports to serve as a diplomatic tool, bridging geopolitical divides and promoting unity even in times of conflict, is massive. Yet the current U.S. stance on the 2026 World Cup — driven by nationalism, economic brinkmanship, and isolationism — does the opposite.
Lauren LaRusso, co-chair of the New York New Jersey Host Committee, acknowledged the challenges, stating, “We’ll work with and we’ll continue to work with FIFA, you, and the others. It’s not perfect, and it’s not pretty, but we have to get comfortable in the gray.” She noted that host committees have limited influence beyond planning and emphasizing bipartisan support for the tournament amid political tensions with Mexico and Canada.
While conflict may offer short-term political leverage, it is a reckless foundation for an international event that thrives on stability. The Trump administration’s fixation on tension as a selling point stands in direct opposition to the very essence of global sports — where unity, not division, is the goal.
The Zeitgeist aims to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.
