Tunnel #25 - Messi shook hands with Trump
The 2026 World Cup will be the most politicized in history and now we have proof.
During the Club World Cup last summer, we caught a glimpse of what was to come. Juventus visited the White House with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to meet President Donald Trump. An already cringey moment was made even more awkward when Trump, who was facing criticism at the time for his policies towards the LGBTQ+ community, asked the players if the club would allow female players to play with them. Then things got even worse.
Surrounded by Weston McKennie, Teun Koopmeiners and Timothy Weah, Trump started talking for 15 minutes straight about the conflict between Iran and Israel, without hesitation. At that moment, we realised that his influence on the next World Cup could be greater than we thought. What happened this week turned that feeling into a certainty.
First the bombings in Iran that may force the team to boycott the World Cup, while Trump dismissed any possible discussions about the issue, stating: “I really don’t care”. Then yesterday, Lionel Messi and the entire Inter Miami squad were guests at the White House. Trump opened the ceremony by addressing the media about the results and destruction caused by bombing Iran. In front of the world’s most famous footballer, he gave a complete justification of his actions, while all the players and staff stood powerless. Eventually, Messi handed over a ball and a number 47 Inter Miami jersey bearing Trump’s name. It’s hard to admit, but Donald Trump eventually got his hands on the 2026 World Cup as well.
With less than 100 days to go until the 2026 World Cup, a Mexican designer unveiled the tournament’s best jacket. Denmark will have to go through the play-offs to qualify, but if they do, they’ll play in this jersey. Umbro’s new collection truly makes us feel at home. Meanwhile, Reebok’s boots are back, and Rayo Vallecano’s fans are angry with the club’s president.
Have you ever played five-a-side with VAR? We did, during Milan’s stop of the Soccertes Football Tour. This is how it went down.
We have to go back to the United States, as they are co-hosting the World Baseball Classic with Japan and Puerto Rico. To be fair, we’re excited about the tournament, so to kick off our coverage, we’ve picked the best uniforms.
Cortina is set to host the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games. You might not know, however, that once the snow has melted, it also becomes one of the best locations for trail running.
We are looking for old footage of soccer in the US. We are about to complete our special documentary about soccer in the US ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and we are still looking for archive pictures and amateur footage from stadiums from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s to include. Do you have any and would you be willing to share? You can send everything to this email address: sports@nssfactory.com.
Lewis Hamilton is about to enter his 20th season of Formula 1. He will go down in history as one of the greatest drivers ever - probably the most successful - and certainly the best dressed. Here are some of his most iconic looks. See you next week!