Committee expresses concerns over US politics

The committee responsible for the joint bid between the USA, Mexico, and Canada, led by Sunil Gulati, has taken the first steps to officially announce their intention to host the 2026 World Cup. However, Gulati himself has expressed worries about the handling of US politics under Donald Trump's leadership, and how it could affect the bid in the host selection process.

"It's going to be complicated. It's not just about our stadiums and hotels. It's also about the perception of the USA and the current situation it's facing. We can't control what happens in Korea. We can't control what happens in the embassies of Tel Aviv (...) We are going to do our best. We have the support of Washington, now we must convince 104 (FIFA members) to vote for us," Gulati stated at the USSF coaches' convention.

Gulati's statement echoes the same concern expressed in June 2016 when the bid was officially presented to FIFA. At that time, Gulati was questioned about the decisions made under President Donald Trump's administration, to which the executive responded by saying that "the world's perception of the USA is definitely affected by who occupies the White House."