Yep. The downturn in international travel to the US is unambiguously clear from the data that has been generated over the last 5 months in 2025. The corrupt filth at FIFA and in the White House get along famously, so the World Cup will go on. Americans love a proven sporting spectacle and will show up unless FIFA gets too greedy with its algorithmic pricing of World Cup matches. Notable, because my understanding is that FIFA actually priced matches quite reasonably at prior World Cups. The most realistic scenario of the World Cup not occurring as planned would be if something dramatic happened in a way that repulsed major national teams, like the individual actions of UEFA national teams in February and March 2022 that trapped FIFA and UEFA into an action that they did not want to take against Russia.
The looks on their faces............................... Over the course of a 16-minute appearance, the group — including U.S. Men’s National Team duo Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah — stood by as Trump discussed a possible attack on Iran, whether the U.S. Civil War could have been avoided and his administration’s travel bans. He also quizzed them on whether a woman could get into their team. “It was all a surprise to me, honestly — they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go,” Weah said after Juventus’ 5-0 win on Wednesday. “I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it’s kind of like, I just want to play football man.”
Another nugget from the meeting............. Weah, McKennie and Juventus’ surreal audience with Trump – ‘A bit weird’ - The Athletic The FIFA president Gianni Infantino was also in the room, along with Carlos Cordeiro, a former U.S. Soccer Federation president. The latter serves as an advisor to Infantino, as well as being a senior advisor to the recently assembled White House Task Force which is working on logistics, operations and security for the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico. .......................... On Wednesday, Trump was asked whether travel bans, which threaten to exclude supporters from travelling to the U.S. for the tournament next year, are a concern. Trump looked at Infantino and said: “Gianni, go ahead.” Infantino said: “No, it is not a concern for us. For the games now in the Club World Cup, everything has been done in a very smooth way. We have an excellent, excellent collaboration of course with the president and the Task Force in particular.” Trump then interjected: “They’re largely sold out (at the Club World Cup) — I don’t think he’s too worried about the travel ban. He doesn’t know what the travel ban is I don’t think.” Infantino laughed along, despite the tens of thousands of empty seats at several group stage games so far in the competition.
Man, if there is ever a Trump, Musk, Infantino meeting, sign me up for a suicide vest. (I’m not serious NSA so calm down and don’t deport me!)