The curtain has finally closed on a World Cup in the United States that was more controversy than crescendo. The tournament's staging has left a bitter taste, with critics now calling for a moratorium on any further major football tournaments in the country until its many shortcomings are addressed. And it's not just about what happened on the pitch – the moral, financial, and logistical shambles that marred the event have left FIFA and world football staring down the barrel of a very uncomfortable question: should the US ever be trusted to host another major tournament again?
At the heart of this storm is former President Donald Trump, whose high-profile presence throughout the event was as much a distraction as it was divisive. Booed at MetLife Stadium during his lone appearance – and that's being generous, given his 'attendance' mainly consisted of a brief, awkward cameo – Trump has made no secret of his desire for the US to host another World Cup, even going so far as to request it personally from FIFA President Gianni Infantino. However, there are many who believe this would be nothing short of a recipe for disaster, given the glaring failures exposed by the 2026 tournament.
The list of grievances is long and growing. The US is scheduled to co-host the 2031 Women's World Cup with Mexico, Jamaica, and Costa Rica – but given its current form, many are now questioning whether this should even be allowed to go ahead without significant reforms being implemented. Meanwhile, Infantino is said to be considering the US for the 2029 Club World Cup, a move that would only serve to further inflame tensions. Critics argue that these future hosting duties should be reconsidered until such time as the country has taken concrete steps to address its many issues.
At the very heart of this furore lies the moral dimension – an incident in which American forces allegedly attacked a school in Iran, resulting in 168 deaths, predominantly children. This event has been labelled a potential war crime by some and drew strong condemnation from across the football world. The lifting of US forward Folarin Balogun's suspension to face Belgium, reportedly after a phone call between Trump and Infantino, has also raised eyebrows – not least because it smacks of governmental interference in sporting matters.
Then there's the financial angle – while FIFA has hailed the tournament as its most lucrative ever, concerns persist about the broader economic impact. Critics argue that the World Cup's benefit to a struggling US tourist industry was limited by the administration's policies, which allegedly deterred many foreign football fans from entering the country. The clash between the Trump administration's values and the World Cup's ethos of diversity and inclusion has also been a significant point of contention – with critics suggesting that granting major international events to the US rewards a government whose actions have negatively impacted other nations.
The logistical issues were just as pronounced, with thousands of fans experiencing unacceptable delays attributed to Trump's movements. It's little wonder, then, that a strong case is being made for the US to be denied further major football tournaments until it addresses these fundamental issues – and ensures that future events truly uphold the spirit of international sport.