The Daily Star looks into all the ways the 2026 World Cup could go horribly wrong after Donald Trump admitted he didn’t know Russia were banned from a World Cup in his own country next year

Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with the White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup in the East Room of the White House

Unless you’ve been living under a rock in recent years, you’ll likely be aware Russia has been banned from competing in various sporting events including the World Cup, following its brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Or unless you’re the President of the United States… with a World Cup in your own country just one year away.

Crazy as it sounds, that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday (May 7) when Donald Trump conceded he wasn’t aware Russia had been banned from the tournament in a toe-curling exchange with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. At a FIFA Task Force Meeting at the White House, Trump was asked about his thoughts on the ban, to which he said: “I didn’t know that. Is that right?”

The White House Task Force meeting discussed how America was preparing for the games at the White House in 2025
Donald Trump had a toe-curling exchange with FIFA President Gianni Infantino

At best, the admission heightened concerns a World Cup in the US could be troublesome. So, the Daily Star asks, what could possibly go wrong?

Shootings

The World Cup is heading to a country in which the President survived an assignation attempt live on air, after a bullet skimmed Donald Trump’s ear while he was giving it a speech.

Not long ago that would have seemed an absurd situation, but this is 2025 and little feels unrealistic anymore.

That, along with a string of horrific shootings on innocent civilians over the years, continues to raise alarm about the safety of fans heading to games in the US. A shooting at Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebrations in 2024, that left one dead and 21 injured, didn’t help.

After all, this is a country where it seems as easy to buy a gun as it is over here to walk into a shop and buy an issue of the Daily Star (way more fun, far less dangerous).

The US insists it will be safe, but the advice for many travelling makes for troublesome reading. Canada, for instance, urges fans to “familiarise yourself with how to respond to an active shooter situation”, which is reassuring… isn’t it?

A person is taken to an ambulance after the shooting in Kansas City
A shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Superbowl celebrations heightened fears about a World Cup(Image: AP)

Hooligans

It’s a safe bet Trump is oblivious to it, but Russia being banned does mean we won’t be seeing those crazy, chair-throwing thugs that marred Euro 2016.

But that doesn’t mean the threat of hooliganism dies with it.

The booze will be flowing in a way it wasn’t at the Qatar World Cup in 2022, and with cities like Miami and New York hosting games, it’s not hard to imagine fans brawling in the street.

Is the US prepared for hooligans?
Is the US prepared for hooligans?(Image: Tomasz Rytych/REX/Shutterstock)

Visitors overstaying their welcomes

Since Trump took office last year, and in his previous spell in the Whitehouse between 2016 and 2020, his administration has been aggressive on immigration.

He’s even been sending some to El Salvador, unlawfully, sparking controversy.

His vice president, JD Vance, insists all are welcome to the tournament which is co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, a country Trump has long pointed the finger at for illegal immigration.

But as reported by The Guardian, jokes were in full flow about visitors overstaying their welcome. Vance said: “When the time is up, they’ll have to go home. Otherwise they’ll have to talk to Secretary Noem.”

How practical that will be for police, however, could be a headache for Trump.

Trump has ridiculed Mexico, a co-host, for illegal immigration
Trump has ridiculed Mexico, a co-host, for illegal immigration(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

In-fighting with co-hosts Mexico and Canada

According to Trump, a great way to cosy up to your co-hosts before hosting the biggest World Cup of all time is to threaten one of them, Canada, with transformation to the US’s 51st state.

That riled, and rallied, Canada as Mark Carney stormed to a win as Prime Minister. Trump, though, has refused to drop the threat.

While it doesn’t (at least we hope) pose any danger to fans, nobody likes turning up to a house party hosted by a couple who can’t stop arguing, do they?

Trump has threatened Canada with transformation to a US state
Trump has threatened Canada with transformation to a US state(Image: Getty Images)

Another open goal

For those too young to remember, the US last hosted the World Cup in 1994. It was the opening ceremony and Diana Ross had a very simple task… to kick a ball into an open goal.

But in what must surely be one of the great metaphors for the US in modern history, she somehow steered the ball wide.

While Mexico will host the opening ceremony, anything feels possible under Trump so don’t be surprised to see some wild antics before, during and after games held in the US.

Diana Ross famously missed an open goal at the 1994 opening ceremony
Diana Ross famously missed an open goal at the 1994 opening ceremony

Visa issues

This World Cup will be the largest ever with 48 teams, which means a whole lot of visitors.

That means the US must process a huge number of them in a short space of time. And according to reports, it’s not something they’re ready for.

A report from a non-profit representing the travel industry said: “We’re not ready to host the upcoming mega decade of events that will draw millions of domestic and international travelers.”

Throw in the likelihood of extra security checks, and you may have thousands of disappointed fans.



By staronline@reachplc.com (David Rivers)

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