For readers in the United States, we live in a time where no one can agree on anything. NBA players can’t agree that the earth isn’t flat, conspiracy theorists can’t agree that Parkland students aren’t actors and politicians sure as hell can’t agree on anything. Well, maybe that last one isn’t quite accurate. On Wednesday, 44 senators came together for a bipartisan agreement, and somehow it involved soccer. The 2026 World Cup, to be specific.
In a rare display of solidarity, nearly half of all U.S. senators penned a letter addressed to one Donald J. Trump. At issue is the chance to host the 2026 World Cup. These politicians asked Trump to support the joint bid to host the tournament between the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
Just joined 42 Senators in sending a bipartisan letter to President Trump in support of @United2026. Our GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL is for the US, Canada, and Mexico to jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. pic.twitter.com/B06DnaPz3F
— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) February 21, 2018
Ignore the fact Mark Warner can’t do simple math and he joined 43 others not 42, because who needs to know math when you’re on the senate budget committee. Warner was one of 26 Democrats along with 17 Republicans and one Independent to sign onto the letter that stated: “We have the opportunity to promote and celebrate the positive impact soccer has had for millions of Americans.”
The message implores the president to back the U.S. involvement in the joint bid for the 2026 World Cup, which will be the first with 48 teams and the largest ever. The U.S. would host 60 of the 80 matches. The only other country bidding against the North Americans is Morocco.
Piers Morgan wants Donald Trump to make Arsenal great again. U.S. senators want Trump to support the 2026 World Cup bid. Photo: @piersmorgan | Twitter
While the North Americans seem like heavy favorites, lack of support from Trump could harm their chances. As president, Trump has actively sought to halt travel to the U.S. from certain countries, some of which could qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Without assurance members of those countries will be allowed into the country, FIFA could opt against allowing the U.S. to host.
Of course, 2026 is a long ways away — Trump almost certainly won’t still be president. This makes it easy for Trump to say he supports a popular idea knowing it won’t affect him much.
Once upon a time Trump played soccer in high school, which might be where he picked up his bone spurs in his feet. He once helped out with the League Cup draw in 1991 in an awkward segment, though his knowledge of the women winning the World Cup that year is mildly impressive.
Soccer fans in North America will hope Trump heeds the words in this letter so they can see the World Cup on their continent for the first time since 1994. Fans in the rest of the world probably just wish Trump and Piers Morgan would take the next Tesla Roadster to Mars.
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