
Trump vows 'seamless' experience for 2026 World Cup fans
Trump, who has appointed himself chairman of the White House task force for the tournament, said visitors to the United States could expect a "seamless" experience.
The United States is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with neighboring Canada and Mexico.
"We can't wait to welcome soccer fans from all over the globe," Trump said at a White House briefing alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
"Every part of the US government will be working to ensure that these events are safe and successful, and those traveling to America to watch the competition have a seamless experience during every part of their visit."
Foreign traveler arrivals in the United States are expected to decline by 5.1 percent in 2025, according to one recent study by Tourism Economics.
The World Tourism Forum Institute has said a mix of stringent US immigration policies and global political tensions could "significantly affect" international arrivals.
Vice President JD Vance, the vice-chair of the World Cup task force, said while foreign visitors would be welcome they would have to leave at the end of the tournament.
"I know we'll have visitors, probably from close to 100 countries. We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the game," Vance told Tuesday's briefing. "But when the time is up, they'll have to go home."
Infantino, the president of football's world governing body, said his organization had "full and entire" confidence in the Trump administration to help deliver a successful tournament.
"The entire world will focus on the United States of America, and America welcomes the world," Infantino told the meeting. "Everyone who wants to come here to enjoy, to have fun, to celebrate the game will be able to do that.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said US officials were using next month's FIFA Club World Cup as a testing ground for the World Cup, stating that the US expected two million overseas visitors.
"We're processing those travel documents and visa applications already ... that is obviously going to be a precursor to what we can do next year for the World Cup as well," Noem said. "It is all being facilitated."
Trump meanwhile said he was confident of working closely with Canada and Mexico despite his broiling trade disputes with the two World Cup co-hosts.
"I don't see any tension either," Trump said, shortly after meeting Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney. "We get along very well with both."
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Euronews
9 minutes ago
- Euronews
Trump deploys more troops to Los Angeles as protests intensify
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a security meeting on Wednesday following his phone call with US President Donald Trump. Israeli media says the call between Trump and Netanyahu lasted around 40 minutes, with the pair discussing a wide range of topics, from the war on Gaza to developments in the Iran nuclear deal. Asked about his call with Netanyahu, Trump didn't offer much detail, but insisted that the call with the Israeli premier went well. "Very well. Yeah, we discussed a lot of things, and it went very well. Very smooth. We'll see what happens. You know, we're trying to do something with a country we just spoke about, Iran,' said Trump. Trump however revealed that negotiations appear to be stagnant due to the Iranians being 'good negotiators'. He also again warned that a violent US approach to Tehran is not off the table. 'Sometimes they can be too tough. That's the problem. So, we are trying to make a deal so that there's no destruction and death. And we've told them that, and I've told them that, and I hope that's the way it works out. But it might not work out that way." Joining the security meeting with Netanyahu – according to Israeli media – are Defence Minister Israel Katz, Shas party chairperson Aryeh Deri and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. Far-right figures who will also reportedly be taking part in the meeting include National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Ben Gvir and Smotrich are not typically included in such high-level meetings. The meeting comes as Tehran is expected to respond to Washington's proposal for a nuclear deal. The Iranian response is expected to arrive in the form of a counter to the US proposal. Washington has reportedly proposed to allow Tehran to continue enriching uranium, but at low levels and for a limited time period. This will then be halted when a consortium is established for the enrichment of uranium for Iran and other countries outside of Iranian territory. Tehran is expected to reject this proposal, with rumours emerging that Iranian officials will not accept a deal in which they're told what to do on their own territory. US President Donald Trump has deployed another 2,100 National Guard members and 700 US Marines, in what the authorities have dubbed Task Force 51 meant to "provide continuous coverage of the area" as unrest in Los Angeles continued into its fourth day. Tensions between Washington and California officials have grown as demonstrators took to the streets to protest a series of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests mostly targeting migrant workers in Los Angeles. The initially peaceful protests turned violent after heightened tensions, leading law enforcement to use tear gas and rubber bullets and shutting down the centre of Los Angeles as an "unlawful assembly area". Trump has since deployed some 2,000 US National Guard troops to maintain order against what he said were 'violent people'. Late on Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was informed further National Guard members were on their way. Newsom calls the presence of troops on the streets of Los Angeles both 'illegal and immoral." In a post on X, he said the activation of US Marines in Los Angeles was a "deranged fantasy," labelling Trump as a "dictatorial president". "This is un-American," Newsom added. Trump shot back, saying that the city would have been 'completely obliterated' if he had not sent National Guard members. "I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before," he said in a post on his own platform, Truth Social. 'Rescind the order. Return control to California,' Newsom demanded in a post on the social media platform X. This appears to be the first time in decades that a state's National Guard was activated without a request from its governor. Newsom, speaking to local media, announced that his state will sue the Trump administration to roll back the National Guard deployment. California Attorney General Rob Bonta stated that the state intends to pursue a restraining order "to set aside the president's unlawful action federalising the California National Guard." He added that there was neither a migrant "invasion" nor a rebellion to warrant the takeover. Bonta said the lawsuit became necessary once Trump escalated the number of troops, leading to growing unrest. Trump and his "border czar" Tom Holman traded taunts with Newsom about the possibility of arresting the governor if he interfered with federal immigration enforcement efforts. 'I would do it if I were Tom. I think it's great,' Trump said. Firing back, Newsom responded in a post on X saying 'The president of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America.' On Monday, a large crowd gathered in a park opposite Los Angeles City Hall to demonstrate against the arrest of a prominent labour leader. Their placards criticised Trump and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the arrest of David Huerta on Friday. Various union leaders from across California led the crowds in chants of calling for his release. Huerta was subsequently released on a $50,000 (€43,777) bond. Residents say the scent of smoke and fire hung in the air, and piles of ash littered the streets of Los Angeles from the burnt vehicles that were ignited during the protests. ICE officials stated that they are actively enforcing immigration laws and seeking to deport immigrants who have criminal convictions. Additionally, they expressed their preparedness to apprehend protesters who violate the law or obstruct their operations. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her concerns during an interview, stating that an increase in federal immigration raids could lead to "pandemonium." She also added that protesters are ready to react swiftly and continue their demonstrations if they see ICE forces in action. A convoy of buses and private cars departed from Tunisia's capital on Monday headed to Gaza as part of efforts to spotlight Israel's blockade on humanitarian aid to the territory, as Israeli authorities stopped a high-profile flotilla from landing there. The overland effort, organised independently but moved up to coincide with the flotilla, is made up of activists, lawyers and medical professionals from North Africa. It plans to traverse Tunisia, Libya and Egypt before reaching Rafah, the border crossing with Egypt that has remained largely closed since Israel's military took control of the Gaza side in May 2024. The Tunisian civil society groups behind the convoy said their aim is to demand "the immediate lifting of the unjust siege on the strip." They asserted that Arab governments haven't pushed enough to end the 20-month war between Israel and Hamas. After an almost three-month blockade of Gaza aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing in some basic aid last month. Experts have warned of famine in the territory of over 2 million people unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive. The convoy set off as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an aid ship that set sail from Sicily earlier this month, was seized by Israeli forces in what activists said were international waters. Those aboard, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, were detained and will be deported home. The overland convoy drew widespread attention in Tunisia and Algeria, where it began on Sunday, with some people waving Palestinian flags and chanting in support of the people of Gaza. "This convoy speaks directly to our people in Gaza and says, 'You are not alone. We share your pain and suffering," Yahia Sarri, one of the convoy's Algerian organisers, wrote on social media. The North African activists do not expect their convoy to be allowed into Gaza. Regardless, it provides "a message of challenge and will," said Saher al-Masri, a Tunis-based Palestinian activist. Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's population. The convoy plans to gather supporters in towns south of Tunis before crossing into Libya, where clashes between rival militias have turned deadlier in recent months. Organisers said they planned the land crossings with relevant authorities leading up to the convoy's departure.


France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
(How) Do the LA protests compare to the 1992 riots?
In the press today: We start with the protests in LA over increasing ICE arrests. The Australian press are headlining on this. The conserative Melbourne daily Herald Sun headlines "hell reigns in city of angels" and notes that rubber bullets and tear gas were used. The Guardian Australia headlines on a viral video of Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi for Channel 9 being shot with a rubber bullet during a live cross showing a guard appearing to deliberately aim in her direction. Channel 9 says the video serves as stark reminder of the inherent dangers journalists can face while reporting. Another Melbourne-based paper The Age reports that LA simmers as Donald Trump threatens to send troops everywhere. The paper's international editor Peter Hartcher writes that the confrontations we're seeing in LA are not quote episodic or random. They are likely the opening scenes of a new phase in US history. He adds that the problem is not the principle of deporting illegal immigrants but the manner in which Trump is doing it – with an enthusiasm verging on bloodlust. The San Francisco Chronicle publishes exclusive photos showing the deployment of troops as being "wildly underprepared." The photos show dozens of National Guard troops sleeping on the floor after Trump's rush to deploy them to LA, without the approval of California governor Gavin Newsom. This excellent cartoon from British illustrator Ben Jennings – Straight INTO Compton he says. The previous deployments of the National Guard also garnered a lot of attention in the press. The Associated Press notes that the deployment of National Guard troops are typically reserved for civil rights protests. It reminds us that the last time the National Guard were deployed to LA was in 2020 during the height of protests against the death of George Floyd. Some has compared the protests to the 1992 LA riots, after the acquittal of white police officers for the beating death of black man Rodney King. Time magazine explains the two are not the same notably because Trump invoked a section of the US code that allows the President to call in the National Guard when regular forces are not enough. But he did so without the approval of the governor, which is mandated in the code. Fruthermore, the damage in 1992 was extensive when the troops were called in In LA right now, it's much less. In France, Politico focusing the plight of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal. The acclaimed novelist, vocal critic of the Algerian regime and dual citizen was arrested in Algiers last November accused of undermining national unity. He's been sentenced to five years in prison. His case has garnered a lot of attention in France, which accused Algeria of using him as a political pawn. Relations between France and Algeria deteriorated last year after France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty of Western Sahara. Supporters of the writer have now turned to Europe for help. Sansal has been in and out of hospital since his arrest – he's suffering from cancer and his supporters are concerned about his medical care. So far efforts to lobby the Algerian government to release Sansal have been ignored…his support group also filed a complaint with the EU ombudsman in the hopes of putting pressure. Staying in France, authorities are planning to use the hit Netflix series Adolescence to teach students about toxic masculinity. The series has been viewed 140 million times and garnered critical acclaim. Now the Guardian reports France will follow in the footsteps of the UK, Netherlands and the Flanders region in Belgium. The French education ministry will offer schools five classes based on excerpts from the mini series which sparked a global debate about misogynistic content online and its impact on teens. Finally, a zoo in Belgium was forced to close a zone this weekend after a fight broke out between two seals! Le Parisien reports that the fight erupted after the male seal, who wanted to mate with a female, was rebuffed. Given how big these seals can be – up to 270kg - it's a good thing the zone was closed so the sparring seals could cool off a bit…as they say, make love not war!


France 24
2 hours ago
- France 24
FIFA's Club World Cup finally faces the ultimate test
But the 32-team tournament, which will be played across the USA from June 14 to July 13, has faced criticism and scepticism since the moment FIFA president Gianni Infantino began to float the idea. As a completely new arrival in an already crowded football landscape it remains to be seen whether the competition proves able to carve out a regular place in the calendar. Players representatives, such as global union FIFPRO, have warned of excessive workload on players while others have questioned whether fans will turn out in big enough numbers for the group stage fixtures. "Players will have to perform at the end of an 11-month season with little prospect of getting enough rest before the following season starts," FIFPRO warned when FIFA formally announced the tournament in 2023. Certainly the event adds to an already busy schedule for the world's top players. Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram and Paris Saint-Germain's Desire Doue both played in UEFA's Champions League final on May 31 and then switched shirts to represent their country in the Nations League finals in Germany days later. They have since rejoined their clubs for the new FIFA tournament in which both sides are expected to advance to the latter stages. Those games late in the tournament, likely to feature the top European clubs against the best South American sides, should draw big crowds but it remains to be seen how well ticket sales go for the group-stage games with less globally famous clubs from Asia, North America and Africa included. Captivated Fixtures such as the June 17 encounter in Orlando between South Korean club Ulsan HD and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns will certainly require all the power of American marketing to attract a full house. But FIFA hopes that with broadcasters DAZN offering free streaming of the tournament and the lure of giant club and player brands, fans around the world will be captivated by the new competition. "We are talking about something never seen before (that will) bring the magic of a national team World Cup to the club level," Infantino said. "This tournament will be the beginning of something historic, something that will change our sport for the better and for all future generations who will come to love it as we do," he added. In an era when players drive interest as much as, if not more than clubs, the involvement of stars such as Lionel Messi, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe should ensure social media is buzzing. Twelve of the 32 teams come from Europe including freshly crowned Champions League winners PSG, the continent's most successful club Real Madrid, Premier League giants Manchester City and Chelsea, and German powerhouses Bayern Munich. South America's six teams are made up of four Brazilian clubs, including Copa Libertadores winners Botafogo and their Rio de Janeiro rivals Flamengo, along with Argentina's two biggest clubs River Plate and Boca Juniors. Adding local interest, there are three teams from Major League Soccer -- Los Angeles FC, the Seattle Sounders and Messi's Inter Miami, as well as a pair of clubs from Mexico in Pachuca and Monterrey, who can expect plenty of support in the USA. Four clubs represent Africa, including Egypt's storied Al Ahly who open the tournament against Messi and Miami on June 14, while Asia's quartet includes Saudi club Al-Hilal. American fans regularly snaffle up tickets for the big European teams who come to NFL stadiums to play pre-season friendly games and so the added competitive element should see healthy crowds for the headline performers. Questions over how seriously the clubs would take the new competition became somewhat muted after FIFA announced the huge prize fund. The billion dollars are split between participation fees for all clubs and the rewards for those going deep in the tournament. The winner could leave with as much as $125 million. FIFA's current plan is for the tournament to be held every four years but it will be interesting to see if that changes after the first test of its appeal. If it is a flop, the critics will likely re-appear and question whether it is needed at all but should it be a roaring success, it is not hard to imagine some at FIFA pushing for it to be held on a more regular basis. © 2025 AFP