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Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
FIFA World Cup 2026: Will US hostility trump its hospitality?
Not long after Los Angeles (LA) was selected as one of 11 American cities to host next summer's FIFA World Cup, tourism officials started predicting the potential economic impact. Among the most optimistic? That the weeks-long tournament could pour almost $600 million into the local economy, mostly from international fans of football. Pessimism has since taken over. At a time when the US should be preparing to roll out the proverbial welcome mat to the world, President Donald Trump's erratic immigration policies and draconian rhetoric are instead scaring tourists away. Also Read: Trial by Trump: Ramaphosa may well have emerged stronger from the Oval Office Stories abound of travellers with visas in hand being denied entry at the border over minor infractions or, in some cases, being held for weeks before being allowed to return home. The World Travel & Tourism Council, pointing to the Trump administration, recently projected that spending on international trips to the US would reach only $169 billion this year, down $12.5 billion compared to 2024 and well below the 2019 peak of $217 billion. Travel from Canada is down for the third straight month. Numerous countries, including Germany, have issued travel advisories warning their citizens to strictly follow the United States' tighter rules for entry, or risk being detained. Trump, however, appears unconcerned. During his visit to Qatar, where the previous World Cup was held, he insisted that next year's tournament— billed as the largest ever, with 48 teams playing matches in the US, Mexico and Canada—is 'going to be really exciting." Also Read: Race in Trump's America: One step forward and two steps back Meanwhile, his Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem has promised that travel for tourists 'will go smoothly." FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a long-time Trump ally, has claimed that the world is welcome in America. 'This doesn't come from me. This comes from the American government," he told the FIFA Congress. Such empty boosterism hasn't gone over well in LA, the US city with arguably the most at stake when it comes to sports tourism. Not only is it hosting eight World Cup matches, including the high-profile men's opener, it's also on the hook to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. Planning is well underway for both mega events, which, so far, have largely been funded with sponsorship and licensing deals. However, taxpayers and the city's depleted coffers will be on the hook if there are cost overruns, which is usually the case. Also Read: Euro Cup 2024: Corporate boardrooms should tune into football Of the last 14 World Cups, all but two ended up in the red for their host countries, researchers from the University of Lausanne found. And with the Olympics, most host cities usually exceed their budgets and fail to recoup their expenses. London broke even in 2012 and that was considered a success. Hotels and restaurants, flush with customers, tend to turn a profit during mega events. But with many expecting the Trump administration's policies to act as a tourism deterrent, exactly how much profit is now in question. This was the gist of a heated debate before the Los Angeles City Council recently, as tourism officials and business leaders objected to a plan to ramp up the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $25 per hour in time for the World Cup and to $30 per hour in time for the Olympics. 'An overwhelming majority of visitors from our key international markets now have an unfavourable view of the United States as a travel destination," warned Adam Burke, president of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, citing the projected slowdown in international travel, which is already being felt in California resort towns, such as Palm Springs. 'The 2025 outlook is not encouraging," Burke added. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | Trump's $5 million price tag on a US visa is no big shock Also of concern is whether the Trump administration even has the resources to quickly process millions of applications for tourist visas, and, if so, whether it has the patience to manage the flow of fans and players repeatedly crossing into Mexico and Canada during the World Cup. To this, US Vice-President J.D. Vance recently joked—at least, I think it was a joke—that the US wants tourists to 'watch the game. But when the time is up, they'll have to go home. Otherwise, they'll have to talk to Secretary Noem." Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, meanwhile, encouraged tourists to take a road trip, but 'don't overstay your visa." Such comments are unlikely to inspire confidence in any would-be tourists. As Adam Sacks, president of the research firm Tourism Economics, recently told the New York Times: 'The brand of the country has taken a beating." It seems the bruises will show up first in Los Angeles . ©Bloomberg The author is a politics and policy columnist for Bloomberg Opinion.
The Star
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
FIFA's World Cup is coming to Los Angeles. Will tourists follow?
NOT long after Los Angeles (LA) was selected as one of 11 American cities to host next summer's FIFA World Cup, tourism officials started predicting the potential economic impact. Among the most optimistic? That the weeks-long tournament could pour almost US$600mil into the local economy, mostly from international fans. Pessimism has since taken over. At a time when the United States should be preparing to roll out the proverbial welcome mat to the world, President Donald Trump's erratic immigration policies and draconian rhetoric are instead scaring tourists away. Stories abound of travellers with visas in hand being denied entry at the border over minor infractions or, in some cases, being held for weeks before being allowed to return home. The World Travel & Tourism Council, pointing to the Trump administration, recently projected that spending on international trips to the United States would reach only US$169bil this year, down US$12.5bil compared to 2024 and well below the 2019 peak of US$217bil. Travel from Canada is down for the third straight month. Numerous countries, including Germany, have issued travel advisories, warning their citizens to strictly follow the United States' tighter rules for entry or risk being detained. The Netherlands and Belgium have issued specific warnings for transgender travellers, advising them to be prepared for difficulties at the border if they use the non-binary gender option on their passports. Trump, however, appears unconcerned. During his visit to Qatar, where the previous World Cup was held, the president insisted that next year's tournament – billed as the largest ever, with 48 teams playing matches in the United States, Mexico and Canada – is 'going to be really exciting.' Meanwhile, his Homeland Security secretary, Kristi Noem, has promised that travel for tourists 'will go smoothly.' And FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a longtime Trump ally, has claimed that the world is welcome in America. 'And let's be clear about that,' he told the FIFA Congress. 'This doesn't come from me. This comes from the American government.' Such empty boosterism hasn't gone over well in Los Angeles, the United States city with arguably the most at stake when it comes to sports tourism. Not only is it hosting eight World Cup matches, including the high-profile men's opener, it's also on the hook to host the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028. Planning is well underway for both mega-events, which, so far, have largely been funded with sponsorship and licensing deals. However, taxpayers and the city's depleted coffers will be on the hook if there are cost overruns – and there are usually cost overruns. Of the last 14 World Cups, all but two ended up in the red for their host countries, researchers from the University of Lausanne found. And with the Olympics, most host cities exceed their budgets and fail to recoup their expenses. London broke even in 2012 and that was considered a success. Hotels and restaurants, flush with customers, tend to turn a profit during mega-events. But with many expecting the Trump administration's policies to act as a tourism deterrent, exactly how much profit is now in question. This was the gist of a heated debate before the Los Angeles City Council recently, as tourism officials and business leaders objected to a plan to ramp up the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to US$25 per hour in time for the World Cup and to US$30 per hour in time for the Olympics. 'An overwhelming majority of visitors from our key international markets now have an unfavourable view of the United States as a travel destination,' warned Adam Burke, president of the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, citing the projected slowdown in international travel, which is already being felt in California resort towns, such as Palm Springs. 'The 2025 outlook is not encouraging,' Burke added. Also of concern is whether the Trump administration even has the resources to quickly process millions of applications for tourist visas and, if so, whether it has the patience to manage the flow of fans and players repeatedly crossing into Mexico and Canada during the World Cup. To this, vice-president JD Vance recently joked – at least, I think it was a joke – that the United States wants tourists to 'watch the game. But when the time is up, they'll have to go home. 'Otherwise, they'll have to talk to secretary Noem.' Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, meanwhile, encouraged tourists to take a road trip, but 'don't overstay your visa.' Such comments are unlikely to inspire confidence among any would-be tourists. As Adam Sacks, president of the research firm Tourism Economics, recently told the New York Times: 'The brand of the country has taken a beating.' It seems the bruises will show up first in Los Angeles. — Bloomberg Erika D. Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. The views expressed here are the writer's own.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Lionel Messi: UEFA confirms Spain vs Argentina Finalissima with Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal clash
UEFA and CONMEBOL have revealed that the 2024 UEFA Euro winners, Spain, will take on the 2024 Copa América winners, Argentina, in the highly anticipated Finalissima 2025 . The announcement was made at a joint session in Asunción, Paraguay, which was conducted alongside the FIFA Congress. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The transcontinental confrontation, already described as a generational battle, will pit teen sensation Lamine Yamal against football legend Lionel Messi—a symbolic encounter to witness for all football fans. Lamine Yamal to face Lionel Messi in Finalissima 2025 as Spain-Argentina game confirmed La Finalissima 2026 Officially Confirmed – Messi vs Spain | Epic Clash Before World Cup! The Finalissima is scheduled to be a standalone spectacle showcasing champions from the two most prestigious continental tournaments in world football. And with Lamine Yamal's meteoric rise and Lionel Messi's enduring excellence, the match promises to transcend the result—it will be about legacy. Lamine Yamal, just 17 years old, has emerged as Spain's outstanding player, topping the European Championship with dominating performances that helped La Roja win the title. Lamine Yamal has tallied 16 goals and 21 assists in 52 games this season, delivering when it counts in important Champions League and El Clásico matches. At the other extreme is Lionel Messi, the FIFA World Cup champion and aging world legend still working his magic on the pitch in Argentina's jersey. The Finalissima will not only be an elite-class football tournament—it could decide the 2025 Ballon d'Or fight. Yamal is already becoming a leading candidate following a dynamite campaign, while Messi aims to win one more international honor for his record book. Finalissima 2025 could rewrite football's next chapter While the world waits for the Finalissima, the stakes are higher. It can be a final appearance in an iconic global career for Lionel Messi. It can be the beginning of a new era of football for Lamine Yamal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The match is also a unique and historic event that piques the interest of two world football giants facing each other in a competitive arena outside of the World Cup. Also read: While that may be the final goal, in the meantime there is the very tangible thrill of watching Raphinha assist FC Barcelona in winning silverware for the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. And as club allegiances blend into global ambitions, all eyes will be upon the game between Argentina and Spain—a match as rich in meaning as it is in depth.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
US President Donald Trump praises FIFA President Gianni Infantino as "an excellent guy" on Saudi trip, igniting UEFA outrage
US President Donald Trump with FIFA President Gianni Infantino (via Getty Images) Donald Trump 's high-speed Middle East refueling stop yielded a surprise football side plot when the United States president was heard praising FIFA president Gianni Infantino as 'an excellent guy' as he introduced him to Saudi Arabia 's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman . The three-word statement played out within Riyadh's Royal Court and has led to fresh criticism from UEFA officials, who claim Gianni Infantino prioritizes political photo opportunities above governing football. UEFA criticizes Gianni Infantino for late arrival after US President Donald Trump meeting in Riyadh From Elon Musk to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino attend US President Trump's state dinner in Qatar Gianni Infantino, 55, accompanied Donald Trump on the president's Gulf tour that also included tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and Middle East leaders from Saudi Arabia and Qatar. As per lip reader Jeremy Freeman's assessment, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed the FIFA chief to joking remarks—'Come on, I don't know you'—before laughing and adding that 'it's great to see you'—before Trump interrupted: 'Hi, Gianni, an excellent so is he...,' rounding out a warm scene unspooling under the twinkling chandeliers and the flash of cameras. However, this camaraderie soured relations with UEFA, as delegates were waiting for FIFA's annual Congress. Gianni Infantino was way past the publicized start time—hearing delayed, European officials complained, by his stopover in Riyadh. To protest, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin and English FA chair Debbie Hewitt spearheaded a walkout during the break of the dinner session, later criticizing Gianni Infantino for 'putting football's interests second'. 'The FIFA Congress is one of the most important meetings in world football, where all the 211 nations in the world's game gather to discuss issues that affect the sport right across the world,' said European football's governing body. "To have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests does the game no service and appears to put its interests second. We are all in post to serve football, from the streets to the podium, and UEFA members of the FIFA council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Whether Donald Trump's radiant 'excellent guy' judgement boosts the standing of Gianni Infantino or continues to enrage UEFA, the Riyadh incident shows football's intersection with global politics more acutely than ever. Also read: Gianni Infantino hit with UEFA backlash for FIFA Congress delay following Donald Trump meeting While European power brokers call for attention to governance reforms and federations look ahead to World Cup host-site clout, Infantino's tightrope walk between presidential podiums and pitch-side concerns becomes increasingly shaky—and the next hot spot might come as early as the resumption of the FIFA Council this fall.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brazil soccer to pick new president shortly before introducing Ancelotti
FILE - President of the Football Associated of Brazil Ednaldo Rodrigues, gives a speech after Brazil was chosen to host the 2027 Women's World Cup, at the FIFA Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit, File) SAO PAULO (AP) — The Brazilian Football Confederation will pick a new president shortly before it introduces Real Madrid's Carlo Ancelotti as the new national coach. CBF vice president Fernando Sarney, who was named by a judge as the caretaker president after Ednaldo Rodrigues was removed from office, announced on Friday that the vote will take place on May 25, the same day as the last round of the Spanish league. Advertisement When Rodrigues was in charge, Ancelotti was expected to arrive the next day at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro to announce his squad for two World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June. The coach has confirmed his move to Brazil at the end of La Liga but has not mentioned when he arrives. The CBF election will also include eight vice president positions. 'The management of the electoral process will be under the responsibility of an independent electoral commission,' Sarney said in a statement. Rio-based judge Gabriel de Oliveira Zefiro removed Rodrigues from the presidency on Thursday and ordered new elections 'as soon as possible.' The embattled soccer executive is appealing to the country's Supreme Court to keep his position. Advertisement Rodrigues announced the signing of Ancelotti as Brazil coach on Monday. He won re-election in March to remain on the job until March 2030. Zefiro put Sarney, who asked the court to unseat Rodrigues, in charge of organizing new elections. The judge ruled the agreement that validated Rodrigues' first term was null and void, and that without it Rodrigues should not have been eligible for his second term. Sarney told TV Globo on Thursday he will not touch Brazil's deal with Ancelotti. It is the second time Rodrigues has been removed from office by a court decision. A similar move took place in December 2023 but the removal was reversed by Brazil's Supreme Court. Advertisement Because of that earlier legal dispute, the confederation vice presidents reached an agreement in January to validate Rodrigues' first term and clear the way for him to run again. But Zefiro sided with Sarney, who claimed one of the signatories of the deal, the 86-year-old Antonio Carlos Nunes, was not mentally fit to sign the agreement. The court scheduled to hear Nunes on Monday to evaluate his mental state, but the hearing was suspended only hours after Ancelotti was signed. Rodrigues has made no comment. ___ AP soccer:
