How Trump, Messi, USMNT affects football in 2026

On January 31, 2025By Littum

Select your calendars, Football Fans: FIFA World Cup 2026 starts in 500 days.

FIFA expects at least 5 million fans to participate in the US World Cup, Canada and Mexico, with at least six billion people all over the world tuning into the action, the football management body said in a news announcement on Monday.

With 48 teams playing in 104 matches, it is expected to be the biggest World Cup ever. The tournament begins on June 11 in Mexico City, and the final will be played July 19 at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

After last summer’s Copa America and in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, the World Cup ends a three-year stretch of the United States hosting big football tournaments.

Expect President Donald Trump, reigning World Cup champion Lionel Messi and the American men’s national football team will be among those who play major roles in raising awareness of the sport and tournament over the next 500 days.

Here is the state of the sport in the United States before the World Cup 2026:

Trump says ‘football goes through the roof of America’

President Trump will play a crucial role in raising football sports in the United States during his second presidency. His presence alone at the Club World Cup matches this summer and World Cups next year would raise awareness of the sport among Americans.

“I will try to be there. If I can, I would,” Trump said under the FIFA Club World Cup slot draw in December. “Football goes through the roof of America that everyone knows. It’s doing amazingly well.”

Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have a budding friendship in which Trump’s comic points out, “He’s the president and I’m president.”

Infantino recently met with Trump in Mar-A-Lago, Fla., Before joining Trump’s second inauguration in Washington DC last week.

Messi to play in the Club World Cup. Will he play in the World Cup 2026?

Messi is at dusk in his career playing for an American team – Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer. He is widely regarded as the greatest of all time and remains the biggest feature of the sport.

Messi has not yet declared playing in the next World Cup, but football fans around the world are waiting patiently for his decision. He has a busy year to come, including playing in the club World Cup this summer.

Messi will be 39 years old when the World Cup begins in June 2026, which means it could be the last cheers of Messi’s legendary career.

His presence at both FIFA tournaments in the next two years contributes to the sport’s growth in the country.

USMNT at the beginning stages of the World Cup

Usmnt has been transferred to the new Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, who is facing the massive commitment to lead the Americans into the World Cup as a host nation.

While the American Standout Christian Pulisic is a lock for the World Cup, Pochettino must put together the best possible list to avoid embarrassment.

The United States is far from a World Cup, but moving on to the knockout phase of the World Cup – after not doing so in Copa America last summer – would be a step in the right direction.

Usmnt plays in the Concacaf Nations League semi -final in Los Angeles in March and the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament this summer. Gold Cup games are played in five cities in California, three cities in Texas, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, St. Louis and in Vancouver from June 14-6. July.

What to expect for the World Cup in 2026?

Messi’s potential participation is just one of many great history lines in front of the next World Cup.

Can Kylian Mbappe and France reach their third straight World Cup final? How will Neymar look with Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Rodrygo and Raphinha with Brazil? Can the rising 17-year-old star Lamine Yamal and Spain build on their Olympic and euro success?

American cities hosting World Cups include Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia, Seattle and near Boston, Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. World Cups are also played in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada.

FIFA CLUB World Cup this summer

Club -World Championship Tournament this summer will see 32 of the best football clubs worldwide competing.

Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and MLS Club Seattle Sounders are among the participants.

Messi and Inter Miami play the opening match June 14 in Miami. The final is July 13 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Games are also played in Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington DC

How will we stadium security improve after Copa America?

Copa America was Googles No. 1 -Tendens -Search Topic Global By 2024 due to the security joint before the last match between Messi’s Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami last July.

Fans without tickets jumped fences, pushed through gates and trampled people while avoiding police and security staff. Viral videos of fans climbing into ventilation systems, and unhappy scenes in women and children who have trouble breathing and need medical attention for heat fatigue, were lasting images.

Players from Uruguay also went into the stands to save family members from irregular fans after a semi -final match in Charlotte.

The pressure is at FIFA and World Cup organizers to ensure a safe experience in 2026.

Major League Soccer’s role in front of the World Cup

Major League football continues to make progress and enter its 30th season this year. Messi will be on the trip for his third season, with his presence constantly lifting the league on the worldwide scale. San Diego FC begins to play as the 30th team in mls while Los Angeles Galaxy are the reigning MLS Cup masters.

MLS has celebrated several milestones including more than 12 million fans present for matches last seasonsecond to only the English Premier League (14.6 m). The league is also the fastest growing social media after any American sport league on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube. You can find MLS games on Apple TV.

“During these next two years, North America will be episent to global football. Our league, clubs and players are all obliged to work together on this path to 2026, ”said MLS Commissioner Don Garber in December. “We have an incredible opportunity to continue this great course and create even more momentum as we continue to grow our sport and league in the years to come.”

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