For the second time in a week, President Trump on Monday urged other countries to support the North American bid to host the 2026 World Cup and again implied there might be consequences for those who did not. The comments, made during a news conference in the Rose Garden, raised new questions about whether Mr. Trump’s input constitutes political interference in the bidding process, which could jeopardize the joint bid by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
In remarks about international trade while meeting with the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, at the White House, Mr. Trump said, “I hope, all African countries and countries throughout the world, that we also will be supporting you and that they will likewise support us in our bid along with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup.