A North American bid to host the 2026 FIFA Word Cup may lose out to Morocco thanks in part to controversial comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to an ESPN report. The report cites unnamed sources who claim the Trump administration’s travel ban — which affects residents of six mostly Muslim countries — as well as the president’s comments about African countries could put the North American bid in jeopardy. In a statement, the City of Vancouver said inclusion in the North American bid could mean more than $3 billion in cost benefits for the city. “He’s made the United States one of the most unpopular countries in the world,” Gerolymatos said. The host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be announced in June.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 01, 2018 06:56 UTC