US President Donald Trump announced plans Wednesday to attend the World Cup, as the global football tournament prepares to kick off.
"I will, I will," Trump said when an AFP reporter asked him in the Oval Office if he planned to be at any World Cup matches.
He did not give any details, but FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has said he expects Trump to present the trophy to the winning team at the final on July 19.
Last year Trump did the honours – and was booed – at the FIFA Club World Cup final at the MetLife stadium in New Jersey, the same stadium where the World Cup final will take place.
The Republican billionaire has tried to stamp his mark on the World Cup that is being jointly held in the United States, Mexico and Canada, repeatedly mentioning how he successfully bid for it in his first term as president.
He has also struck up a firm friendship with Infantino, who presented Trump with a special peace prize in December, before US military operations in Venezuela and Iran.
"I spoke to Gianni this morning... he said there's never been anything close" to the success of the coming tournament, Trump said.
Off-field distractions
The World Cup has however been dogged by off-field distractions ranging from sky-high ticket prices to an immigration crackdown that has seen fans, team officials and a top Somali referee barred from entering the United States.
Trump said his administration was working on the issue.
"We're working on it very closely to ensure the right people come into our country," he told reporters.
Infantino is likely to face tough questions from the world's press later today about sky-high ticket prices and an immigration crackdown that has seen a top referee, fans and team officials barred by co-hosts the United States.
The head of world football's governing body will give a rare press conference in Mexico City, where co-hosts Mexico play South Africa on Thursday in the opening match at the Estadio Azteca.
The 2026 men's World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams and is the biggest and most ambitious in the event's history, with matches also taking place in Canada.
But the refusal of US immigration authorities to allow Somali referee Omar Artan, one of Africa's leading match officials, into the country underlined fears that Trump's immigration policy could leave deep scars on the football extravaganza.
Artan said the "biggest dream of my life" had been ripped away after he was turned back at the US border.
"I am very, very disappointed," Artan told The New York Times. "I'm just simply a referee who's trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup."
Artan, who was named the 2025 men's referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football, would have been the first Somali to officiate at a World Cup.
He said he was subjected to an 11-hour interview with border officials at Miami International Airport and then detained for several further hours in a holding cell before being put on a flight back to Turkey.
"I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa," he added – an assertion confirmed to AFP by a Somali government advisor.
A US State Department official alleged to AFP that the referee was "associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations," therefore "making the traveler ineligible for admission to the United States."
Artan returned to a hero's welcome in Mogadishu and vowed to take part in the next tournament in 2030.
"I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud... Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged," Artan told more than 100 supporters and journalists at Mogadishu's main airport.
Meanwhile, concerns were rising that the curtainraiser in Mexico City could be disrupted by social unrest.
Protesters Tuesday blocked an avenue leading to the Estadio Azteca although lines of police prevented the demonstrators from reaching the stadium.
Thousands took part in the demonstration following a week of action that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called a "provocation."
Sheinbaum has said that the opening match was "guaranteed," though the left-leaning leader again ruled out using police to repress the demonstrations.
Messi sparkles on return
On the pitch, Argentina's superstar Lionel Messi scored moments after coming off the bench on Tuesday to dispel any injury doubts and help the holders win their final warm-up game.
The 38-year-old Messi had not featured for Argentina in the build-up to their title defence after injuring a hamstring playing for Inter Miami in late May.
He was introduced as a substitute with 20 minutes left to huge acclaim from a capacity 88,000 crowd against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, and his clever through ball played in Lautaro Martinez, who was fouled in the box.
Messi, who drove Argentina to their third World Cup crown in Qatar four years ago and is set to feature in his sixth World Cup, lashed in the penalty to help the reigning champions ease to a 3-0 win.
Argentina's first match is on June 16, against Algeria in Kansas City.
Along with Spain, France and England, Argentina are among the favourites to win the title.
Messi is set to feature in his sixth World Cup.
– TIMES/AFP
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