FIFA Takes Different Approach to US World Cup Than Putin Era as Tournament Faces Trump-Era Tensions

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin in less than two months across three countries - Canada, Mexico, and the United States - amid global uncertainty and growing opposition to US President Donald Trump. A prominent sports journalist interviewed by Slovak daily Denník N expressed concerns not about potential protests against the Trump administration, but rather about how security forces might respond to such demonstrations. The journalist noted that FIFA appears to be taking a different approach to this tournament compared to previous World Cups held in countries led by controversial leaders like Vladimir Putin. The tournament represents the first World Cup to be jointly hosted by three nations and comes at a time of heightened political tensions in the United States.