Cross-Party Motion Cites Trump’s “Violations of International Law,” Threatening Tournament Five Months Before Kickoff
In a move that could throw the upcoming FIFA World Cup into chaos, a coalition of British politicians has demanded the global football body expel the United States as both a host and competitor from the 2026 tournament, citing a dramatic escalation in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
With just five months until the first match, the cross-party group of 23 MPs from the Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Plaid Cymru has tabled a formal motion in Parliament. They urge international sports bodies to suspend the U.S., arguing that mega-events “should not be used to legitimise or normalise violations of international law by powerful states.”
The motion points squarely at last month’s U.S. military raid in Caracas, which seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and a pattern of what the politicians call “repeated veiled and overt threats” made by senior U.S. officials toward countries including Denmark, Colombia, and Cuba.
“The recent escalation of US actions against Venezuela, including the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro, demonstrates a dangerous disregard for the international order,” the motion states.
The demand creates a stark contradiction for FIFA, which just weeks ago awarded President Trump its inaugural ‘Peace Prize’ during the World Cup draw ceremony in Washington, praising his “efforts in reducing conflict worldwide.”
The United States is set to be the centerpiece of the first tri-nation World Cup, hosting 78 of the 104 matches—including every knockout game—while Canada and Mexico host 13 each. A suspension would force an unprecedented logistical overhaul mere months before the tournament begins.
While analysts see a full suspension as unlikely due to Trump’s close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the political motion signals growing global pressure. It also raises immediate questions about the United States’ role in other major events, most notably Los Angeles’ hosting of the 2028 Olympic Games.
The call from Westminster underscores how geopolitical tensions are now spilling directly onto the sporting field, threatening to overshadow the world’s most-watched event with a profound political standoff.
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