FIFA president Gianni Infantino has congratulated Donald Trump ahead of his return as US President.

The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This marks a return to North America for the first time since 1994.

Infantino met Trump multiple times during his first presidency to discuss the World Cup, as well as talking about opening FIFA headquarters in the USA – which they did in 2023. 

‘Congratulations Mr President!’ Infantino wrote on Instagram on Wednesday morning.

‘We will have a great FIFA World Cup and a great FIFA Club World Cup in the United States of America! Football Unites the World!’

The 2026 World Cup will be groundbreaking for a new format which has provoked much discussion. 

There will be a massive expansion and revamp to the tournament, with 48 teams (up from 32) – the three host nations and 45 qualifiers – playing 104 matches (up from 64), significant increases of around 50 per cent.

That growth means a longer tournament and more and earlier/later matches every day in the US, Canada and Mexico.

The first four tournaments in 1930, 1934, 1938 and 1950 had between 13 and 16 countries competing, rising to 16 from 1954, 24 for Spain 1982 and 32 for France 1998, where it has remained since.

FIFA president Infantino was elected on a pledge to create a 40-team World Cup.

He insisted the £825million extra income and £530m extra profit this move is expected to create will trickle down to grassroots football, rather than lining the pockets of the fat cats at the very top. 

‘Increasing the size of teams which can participate will increase the investment in football development, to make sure that the teams can qualify,’ he said. 

The Trump administration promised back in 2018 that there would be no discrimination against fans from any country wanting to visit the World Cup.

His own level of engagement with football or ‘soccer’ is unknown, but he did, rather bewilderingly, help in the Carabao Cup draw in 1991 on the Saint & Greavsie show. 

There will be 12 groups of four teams. That necessitates a massive number of extra games (104), rather than the 80 there would have been with 16 groups of three.

The European Club Association did not support the move because of fears of the effect a significantly bigger and longer tournament would have on squeezing domestic fixtures for clubs.

The 2026 tournament is set to continue for 39 days, a week more than in 2010, 2014 and 2018 and 10 days more than in Qatar, which will squeeze domestic campaigns.  In 2018, countries had 25 days between the end of the domestic season to prepare for the start of the tournament. For 2026, that period is just 16 days.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Politics and sports have become inseparable, especially at major international sports events. So, it has come to be. Donald Trump whose government in 2018 spearheaded the ‘United’ bid of the US, Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup hosting will be in power when the event kicks off.

It was a remote thought that Trump would occupy the White House in 2026 when the US spearheaded the World Cup bid. His presidency, in worst-case scenario, was expected to end this year if he had secured a second term in 2020.

He lost the return which he has now reclaimed after the defeat of Kamala Harris. As it has turned out, Trump triumphed in instances he contested against women.

First, it was Hillary Clinton in 2016 and now Kamala Harris in 2024. And so, the hope for the first American woman president is further delayed. 

Trum will cap his presidency with the hosting of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr and Barcelona winger Raphinha lead Brazil’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers, while Neymar was left out of the team named by coach Dorival Jr on Friday.

Brazil’s top scorer Neymar will remain on the sidelines for his country after returning from a long-term knee injury in Al-Hilal’s 5-4 win over Al-Ain in the Asian Champions League last week.

Raphinha has been one of Barca’s standout performers in the first half of the season and is coming off the back of a goal in a 4-0 win over Real Madrid and a hat-trick against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Vinicius Jr will return to international action after missing last month’s qualifiers with a neck injury, while Real Madrid team mate Endrick was left out.

Brazil, who are fourth in the South American standings with 16 points, six behind leaders Argentina, play at Venezuela on Nov. 14 before hosting Uruguay five days later.

“I think we are in a process of evolution, but it’s not ideal yet,” Dorival told reporters.

“We’re going to fluctuate a bit more until we find consistency. But we are finding a way and I hope that happens in the next few games so we can be in a better position next year.

“I don’t pay too much attention to the first results. God willing, we will get results to get closer to the leaders.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)

Defenders: Danilo (Juventus), Vanderson (Monaco), Guilherme Arana (Atletico Mineiro), Abner (Olympique Lyonnais), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Marquinhos (Paris St Germain), Murilo (Nottingham Forest)

Midfielders: Andre (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Andreas Pereira (Fulham), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United), Gerson (Flamengo), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham United), Raphinha (Barcelona)

Strikers: Estevao (Palmeiras), Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique and Igor Jesus (Botafogo), Savinho (Manchester City)

-Reuters