On Wednesday June 13, 2018, in Moscow, FIFA will award the organization of the 2026 Football World Cup. Around forty days before the vote, in which representatives of the 211 member countries of the international institution will take part for the first time, the American file carried by the United States, Canada and Mexico is still in the favorite position. But for how long?

In recent days, an intruder persists in inviting himself into the countryside. No one asked him for his help, especially not the supporters of the American candidacy. But he runs behind the ball like a madman. At the risk of scoring the defeat goal against your own camp.

At the end of last week, Donald Trump released a tweet that he has the secret to, without nuance, direct and devoid of the slightest diplomatic meaning. “ The United States has developed a STRONG project with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup, wrote the tenant of the White House. It would be a shame if the countries we support in all circumstances campaigned against the American candidacy. Why would we support these countries when they don't support us (including at the UN) ? "

The intention is clear: to force the hand of so-called “friendly” countries of the United States to obtain their votes on June 13 in Moscow, during the FIFA Congress. The method is less so. Firstly, Donald Trump breaks the rule, very symbolic but nevertheless set in stone, of non-interference by political power in sporting affairs. FIFA was quick to remind him of this.

Secondly, the American president is sowing disorder in the candidacy of the three countries by uttering barely disguised threats of sanctions against the countries which choose to give their vote to Morocco. France is one of them. Noël Le Graët, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), has clearly announced his intention to vote for the Moroccan file.

Monday April 30, Donald Trump grabbed the ball a second time. This time he didn't tweet. But the effect was no less disastrous. He discussed the 2026 World Cup during a joint press conference with the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. “ I hope that all African countries and countries around the world will support you, and that they will also support our bid with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup, said Donald Trump. We will look very carefully, and we appreciate any help they can give us with this application. »

This time, the threat is direct. Donald Trump doesn't say it, but everyone understands: the United States could economically sanction nations that turn their backs on it when choosing between the two ballots for the 2026 World Cup.

The leaders of the American project, grouped under the name United 2026, did not react to Donald Trump's first tweet. Nor did they dare to respond to the White House speech. We understand them. By entering the field with sharp crampons, the President of the United States is giving them a hard time. It offers undecided people who are very ethical, if they exist in the world of FIFA, an excellent reason to lean towards the Moroccan side.

With a voting method open for the first time to all FIFA member countries, the vote on June 13 promises to be open. Officially, the African continent will vote en masse for Morocco. Opposite, the member federations of CONCACAF (North, Central America and the Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America) will give their votes to the trio United States, Canada, Mexico. Elsewhere, the landscape is still quite vague.

FIFA has never really made a secret of its preference for an American file that is a priori much more attractive in terms of marketing revenue and development potential. The second visit to Morocco by its evaluation commission, unplanned but decided following “shortcomings in the file”, appears as a sign of its choice. But the decision will, this time, be made by as many people as possible.