Trump says tariff tension will make 2026 World Cup 'more exciting'

President Donald Trump has thrust planetary commercialized relations and markets into a authorities of uncertainty with caller tariff declarations, but helium besides believes they volition heighten the excitement the 2026 World Cup. 

At a Friday property league successful the Oval Office with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Trump was asked however the existent commercialized tensions, particularly with Canada and Mexico, which are the different big countries with the U.S. successful 2026, whitethorn impact the World Cup. 

"I deliberation it's going to marque it much exciting," Trump said. "Tension is simply a bully thing, it makes it overmuch much exciting."

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President Donald Trump and FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) president Gianni Infantino speech successful the Oval Office of the White House aft signing an enforcement bid for a task unit related to the FIFA World Cup, successful Washington, D.C., connected March 7, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP)

This week, the Trump medication imposed 25% tariffs connected goods from Canada and Mexico but past announced Thursday a one-month reprieve for some countries connected goods compliant nether a North American commercialized pact.

The exemptions for the 2 largest U.S. trading partners expire connected April 2. Trump has besides threatened to enforce a planetary authorities of reciprocal tariffs connected each U.S. trading partners.

When Trump archetypal announced tariffs connected Mexico and Canada successful aboriginal February, helium ended up delaying them by a period aft moving retired agreements with some countries to assistance unafraid the bluish and confederate border. 

However, the hostility from the incidental inactive spilled into sports during the NHL 4 Nations Face-Off accumulation tourney from Feb. 12 to 20. Fans successful Canada booed the U.S. nationalist anthem portion fans successful the U.S. booed the Canadian nationalist anthem up of aggregate games. 

It started Feb. 13, erstwhile Canadian fans successful Montreal booed the U.S. nationalist anthem aft President Donald Trump's caller threats to enforce tariffs connected Canada portion besides suggesting the state should go America's 51st state.

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Team United States guardant Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada guardant brandon Hagel (38) combat successful the archetypal play during a 4 Nations Face-Off crystal hockey crippled astatine the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

The booing prompted a flurry of brawls betwixt Canadian and U.S. players successful the archetypal gathering of the tourney betwixt the 2 teams connected Feb. 15. The U.S. won that crippled 3-1.

The Canadian nationalist anthem was past booed astatine TD Garden successful Boston earlier a 4 Nations crippled betwixt Canada and Finland. 

The U.S. and Canada past met successful the last connected Feb. 20, and American fans successful Boston erstwhile again booed the Canadian nationalist anthem, albeit with a lighter tone. Canada won the crippled successful overtime, 3-2. 

Since then, hostile rhetoric betwixt the 2 countries, including successful sports, has lone escalated. NHL games involving teams based successful Canada and the U.S. person often featured booing during pre-game nationalist anthems of the visiting team. 

Fans astatine WWE Elimination Chamber successful Toronto booed "The Star-Spangled Banner" up of the lawsuit past Saturday night. Star sports commentator Pat McAfee loudly lambasted the Canadian fans for booing, and the state arsenic a whole, successful effect during the Peacock broadcast. 

"It benignant of sucks that it's successful the unspeakable state of Canada that booed our nationalist anthem to commencement this full thing," McAfee shouted astatine the broadcast table. 

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks alongside President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino aft unveiling the 2025 Club World Cup trophy successful the Oval Office astatine the White House connected March 7, 2025, successful Washington, D.C. President Trump signed an enforcement bid establishing a White House Task Force for the 2026 World Cup. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

McAfee has since said helium has received decease threats against his babe girl for the comments. 

Canadian men’s shot coach Jesse Marsch blasted Trump for his "51st state" remarks, calling them "insulting" Wednesday. During CONCACAF Nations League media day, Marsch said helium was "ashamed" of however Canada had been insulted by the president.  

"If I person 1 connection to our president, it’s laic disconnected the ridiculous rhetoric astir Canada being the 51st state," Marsch said. "As an American, I’m ashamed of the arrogance and disregard we’ve shown 1 of our historically oldest, strongest and astir loyal allies. But 1 thing’s for sure: When I look guardant a period from now, this volition substance our team. The mentality we have, the volition we person to play for our country."

NHL fable Wayne Gretzky has besides been criticized by chap Canadians for his evident enactment of Trump. Trump precocious said helium had asked Gretzky to go the adjacent "governor of Canada" aft Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced helium would beryllium resigning. 

But aft Gretzky expressed enactment for "Canada remaining a abstracted country, alternatively than becoming a cherished and beauteous 51st State," Trump declared Gretzky a "free agent."

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