JAKARTA - As millions of eyes around the world turn to the 2026 World Cup matches in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, few realize that the biggest tournament in soccer history is the result of a political, diplomatic, and global power struggle that has been going on for more than a decade.
The World Cup, which is now being attended by 48 countries and spread across three host countries, is not just a sports festival, but also a symbol of how the United States has managed to recover from one of the most humiliating defeats in its football history. This is also an international political stage that strengthens President Donald Trump's position in his second term.
This story began on December 2, 2010 in Zurich, Switzerland, when FIFA announced that Qatar was chosen as the host of the 2022 World Cup. At that time, the United States came with high confidence because it felt it had all the conditions needed to be the host of the world's largest tournament.
The Uncle Sam state has modern stadiums, mature transportation infrastructure, large hotel capacity, and successful experience in hosting the 1994 World Cup. Political support also comes from big names such as former President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama, to former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
When they were so sure of winning, the American delegation had even booked a party location before the voting results were announced. But the opposite happened. FIFA chose Qatar with 14 votes against 8, a decision that shocked the world and left a deep wound for American football officials.
The defeat not only caused disappointment, but also gave rise to suspicions that the host selection process had been influenced by non-transparent practices. The suspicion was further strengthened after various allegations of corruption and bribery began to emerge in the FIFA body.
FIFA Corruption Officials
The peak occurred in 2015 when the United States Department of Justice launched a massive investigation into a number of FIFA officials. The international football world was shaken when Swiss police arrested a number of the organization's top officials at a luxury hotel in Zurich at the request of US authorities.
The investigation then revealed a corruption practice that had been going on for years and dragged many important figures in world football. The scandal eventually forced the then-president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, to resign and paved the way for massive reforms in the organization's governance.
One of the most important changes after the scandal was the system of selecting World Cup hosts. If previously the decision was in the hands of a handful of FIFA Executive Committee members, then starting in 2026 all 211 FIFA members have a voting right.
It is this reform that makes the United States see the opportunity to bring home the world's biggest football tournament. But this time they chose a different approach. Instead of going forward on their own as in the previous nomination, America joined forces with Canada and Mexico to form the United Bid, a joint project that offers the first cross-border concept in the modern history of the World Cup with this scale.
The decision to partner with Canada and Mexico has a much greater meaning than just sharing matches. During the nomination process, political relations between the three countries are actually experiencing tension. Donald Trump, who has just entered the White House, openly criticized various economic cooperation with Canada and Mexico and repeatedly touched on border and trade issues.
But in the midst of this situation, American football leaders see that cooperation between the three countries will actually be a strong selling point in the eyes of FIFA. They want to show that North America is still able to work together to present the world's largest sporting event despite various political differences at the government level.
Despite having an infrastructure advantage that far surpasses its competitors, the road to victory is not easy. Morocco emerged as a serious challenger with strong support from African countries and parts of the Middle East. Under the leadership of Carlos Cordeiro, the United States Soccer Federation then ran a very aggressive global diplomacy campaign.
The American, Canadian and Mexican delegations traveled the world meeting with soccer federations from Europe, Asia, Africa to the Caribbean to convince them that the United Bid would present the most successful and profitable World Cup in history. The strategy proved effective as many countries saw the North American proposal as a more realistic option than the massive development project offered by Morocco.
The culmination of the entire process took place on June 13, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. In the voting that was followed by all FIFA members, the United Bid won overwhelmingly with 134 votes, while Morocco only obtained 65 votes. The result was not only a victory for the United States, Canada, and Mexico, but also a symbol of the end of FIFA's old era which for years has been overshadowed by corruption allegations. For the first time in history, the host of the World Cup was chosen through a mechanism that was much more open and transparent.
Over time, the victory has also become an important part of Donald Trump's political narrative. The relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump has grown closer. Infantino has repeatedly visited the White House and publicly praised the American government's support for the tournament.
After Trump won the election again in 2024, cooperation intensified. The federal government formed a special task force that coordinated various aspects of the implementation, ranging from security, transportation, to immigration policy. This step makes the White House one of the important actors in the preparation of the tournament, something that has never happened on this scale in the previous World Cup.
World Cup is profitable
For FIFA, the 2026 World Cup is expected to be the most profitable tournament in history with potential revenue of around 9 billion US dollars. For Trump, this event is an opportunity to showcase the United States as the center of the world's attention in the midst of the country's 250th anniversary of independence.
However, behind this success, a number of criticisms still emerged, ranging from the high ticket prices, immigration policies that are considered difficult for some participants and officials, to the challenge of coordination between the three host countries which have different rules. However, no one can deny that the 2026 World Cup has become one of the largest sports, business, and political projects of the 21st century.
In the end, the story of the 2026 World Cup is not just about football. It is a story about how a country that once felt cheated managed to turn things around, how FIFA rose from a corruption crisis that threatened its existence, and how Donald Trump found the perfect global stage to strengthen his leadership image.
When the first whistle was blown and the stadiums were filled with millions of fans, the world was witnessing more than just a football match. The world is witnessing the results of the political and international diplomacy that has been going on for years behind the scenes.
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