New Delhi: US President Donald Trump will face no hiccups in attending matches during the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) delayed the final decision regarding banning government officials from major sporting events over unpaid dues from their respective countries. WADA postponed the decision in its executive committee meeting this week.
WADA has been contemplating a rule that will bar the government officials of countries that have voluntarily withheld their dues from attending major sporting events. The anti-doping world body said it will now consider the new rule in September this year, putting off a potential conflict with Trump, who could have been among the government officials to face bans from WADA.
The WADA executive committee delaying the decision also means Trump will face no resistance from WADA in attending matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026, which is set to be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada in June-July this year. Trump could have been on the banned list due to the US not paying its dues to WADA.
US hasn’t paid its dues to WADA since 2023, amounting to roughly $7.3 million. The withholding of the payment by the US government has come in protest of WADA’s handling of cases involving Chinese swimmers and other issues. If the US refuses to release the payments, WADA could impose bans on US lawmakers, including President Trump.
“The withholding of contributions by governments for political or other voluntary reasons remains a serious topic of concern for all WADA’s stakeholders. Funding instability has a direct effect on the functioning and development of the World Anti-Doping Program,” WADA’s director general, Olivier Niggli, said after the meeting on Tuesday.
“Ultimately, those who are most directly and most negatively impacted are athletes around the world,” he added.
If the rule is formalised and executed by the end of this year, it will come into effect for the 2028 LA Olympics. However, it remains to be seen if WADA holds the authority to bar US government officials from attending the matches and the ceremonies during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Iran negotiating with FIFA to move matches out of US
Meanwhile, Iran are currently in negotiations with FIFA over moving their matches from the US to Mexico in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026. Initially threatening to pull out of the tournament, Iran have now decided not to play their matches in the US. As per the current schedule, Iran are set to play all their matches in the US.
However, Iran have decided to not play in the US amid the ongoing war in West Asia. Iran has been involved in a military conflict with US and Israel. Though US President Trump assured that Iran are welcome to take part in the tournament in the US, he also warned that the Iranian players should not play in the country given the current situtaion.
The Iranian football federation is now in talks with FIFA over shifting their matches from the US to Mexico.