World Cup 2026: Brazil at Risk as Donald Trump Imposes New Restrictions
- Another country faces an uncertain future at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the US president issued a new executive order
- Donald Trump made good on his threat to increase trade tariffs and sanctions against the competition's most successful nation ever
- Trump had previously banned the citizens of 12 countries, including one that has already qualified for the World Cup, from visiting the country
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has been thrown into another tailspin after a wave of Donald Trump's latest restrictions.
Source: Getty Images
The World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, will have a new-look format, featuring 48 teams in an expanded tournament.
Why had Donald Trump placed sanctions on Brazil?
However, Brazil fans who intend to make the distance north to support their team might want to hold on to their horses after Trump's latest executive order.
The American president slapped an extra 40% tariff on most Brazilian goods, bringing the total to 50%.
The new measures are a result of what he calls a 'witch hunt' against the country's former president, Jair Bolsonaro.
"The Order finds that the Government of Brazil’s politically motivated persecution, intimidation, harassment, censorship, and prosecution of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and thousands of his supporters are serious human rights abuses that have undermined the rule of law in Brazil," read the statement from the White House.
Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump, is facing prosecution over his alleged involvement in overturning the 2022 elections.
The relationship between Trump and the current president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is believed to be at an all-time low.
Lula had previously lashed out at Trump, insisting that Brazil were a sovereign nation that couldn't bend to the whims of another country.
The orders have targeted Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the charges against Bolsonaro. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Moraes of 'censorship and arbitrary detentions that violate human rights'.
How will this affect Brazil at World Cup 2026?
As CNN Brasil reports, Trump could impose visa restrictions on all Brazilians visiting the United States.
The report explains that the restrictions were already in place for the Brazilian senators who visited Washington this week.
The lawmakers faced restricted visas than never seen before in terms of how many days they could stay in the US.
The ban could last during the World Cup, which will severely affect the Samba Nation faithful who had planned to make the trip to support their team.
Has Brazil qualified for World Cup 2026?
Yes. The South American giants boast of being the only country to have qualified for every World Cup tournament in history.
They are also the most successful nation in the competition, having won it five times. Their last triumph came in 2002, something they will be hoping to change next year.
They recently hired celebrated manager Carlo Ancelotti, who took them over the finishing line in the South American qualifiers.
Source: Getty Images
Brazil sit third on the 10-team table with 25 points, 10 behind leaders and reigning champions, Lionel Messi's Argentina.
The top six teams in South America often qualify automatically, while the seventh-placed team goes for a playoff with another country from another continent.
Other countries banned by Donald Trump
Should the American leader follow on his threat and ban Brazilian citizens, they will join 12 other countries, whose nationals are now restricted from entering the United States.
Top of this list is Iran, who have also already qualified for the World Cup next year
The full list of countries banned includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela were handed partial visa restrictions.
What did Donald Trump say to Cole Palmer?
In a related report, Cole Palmer revealed what Trump told him during Chelsea's Club World Cup trophy presentation ceremony.
Trump was recently at the centre of the FIFA Club World Cup celebrations in New Jersey, where he engaged with Chelsea players.
The Blues won the competition after beating the highly-fancied European champions, Paris Saint-Germain, in the final at MetLife Stadium.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
