Will Trump presidency impact possible U.S. World Cup bid?

Martin Rogers | USA TODAY Sports

Show Caption Hide Caption Michael Bradley: 'Added layer' to USA-Mexico after election USMNT Captain Michael Bradley said that the USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier has an "added layer" after the election.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election will not prevent a United States bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati said on Friday.

“He is the president of the United States as of Jan. 20,” Gulati told reporters before the national team’s clash with Mexico in World Cup qualifying. “We will work with him. It is not going to dissuade or persuade us to bid.”

American soccer officials have yet to decide whether to launch a bid for 2026 but are expected to do so. Given that FIFA has indicated that European and Asian nations would be prevented from hosting, a bid from the CONCACAF region that encompasses North and Central American and the Caribbean, would have a high chance of success.

“We have had preliminary discussions,” Gulati said. “In regard to the election result, we respect the election and we will work with whoever is in the White House, in this case president-elect Trump and his team.

“A bid, if it should happen, relies heavily on cooperation with the government in a number of areas. I look forward to working with the president-elect. He is an avid sports fan. We will wait and see if we will bid and what the rules of engagement are.”

The bidding process is expected to heat up next summer, with a final vote coming on May 2020.

Earlier this year, Gulati indicated that a defeat for Hillary Clinton in the election could have a negative effect on a potential bid. However, he now appears determined to build a working relationship with the Trump administration.

“What I said was that a joint bid (with Mexico) would be more difficult if (Clinton) was not elected,” Gulati added. “But I don’t think it will affect our final decision.

“Perceptions matter but those will be developed in the months to come, not only in campaigns. Lots of things are said on campaigns.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is lobbying for an increase in the number of teams that qualify for the World Cup, possibly to as many as 48. Infantino has also spoken about the possibility of joint bids, bringing a US/Canada, US/Mexico or a bid involving all three into play.

However, Gulati said he would be unlikely to favor of a situation similar to that of South Korea and Japan in 2002, where games and hosting rights were split evenly between the nations. That suggests he would prefer an option where the U.S. was a primary host, with some matches in either Canada or Mexico or both.