The World Anti-Doping Agency could prevent US President Donald Trump and other officials belonging to the current administration from attending the Los Angeles Olympic Games that will be taking place in a couple of years’ time. WADA is reportedly planning to achieve that by rewriting its rules in a move that could also have major implications on the FIFA World Cup – which will be co-hosted by the United States later this summer.

According to The Associated Press, the proposal of changing rules is on the agenda for a WADA Executive Committee meeting that is set to take place on Tuesday, and is the latest development in the ongoing tussle between Washington DC and the global organisation created to combat doping in elite sport.

The US government had, after all, has refused to pay its annual dues to WADA in a unanimous, bipartisan protest against the agency’s handling of a case involving Chinese swimmers and other issues.

WADA spokesperson James Fitzgerald insists “there’s nothing new” with regards to the proposal for Tuesday’s meeting, adding that discussions pertaining to governments refusing to pay their annual dues has been going on since 2020 and aren’t specific to the United States.

It’s worth noting, however, that the proposal had first been brought up in 2024, around the time the US decided to withhold its annual dues to the Montreal-based organisation and lost its seat on the Executive Committee as a result.

And even if the rule change is passed by the WADA Executive Committee, it will largely be symbolic since an international sports federation has limited powers when it comes to preventing an elected head of state from attending an event within the borders of his own country.

Trump administration remains firm in its stance against WADA

The Trump administration, meanwhile remains firm in its stance of demanding “accountability and transparency” from WADA.

“In spite of WADA’s increasing threats, we continue to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport,” said Sara Carter, Director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Rahul Gupta, Carter’s predecessor at ONDCP, further described WADA’s reported plans of barring Trump from attending two high-profile events on home soil as “ludicrous”.

“I have never heard of a $50-million-budget Swiss foundation being able to enforce a rule to, for example, prevent the United States president from going anywhere. And the next question you have to ask is: How are you going to enforce it? Are they going to post a red notice from Interpol? It’s ludicrous. It’s clear they have not thought this through,” said Gupta, who was on the WADA executive committee two years ago and led the movement to reject the proposal.

FILE – President Donald Trump stands on stage next to the FIFA World Cup after receiving the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Iran has insisted that no one can prevent its national team from participating in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, responding strongly to comments made by US President Donald Trump regarding the team’s safety in the United States, Canada & Mexico.The Iranian national football team issued a statement on social media on Thursday after Trump warned that the players’ “life and safety” could be at risk in the US, which is one of the three co-hosts of the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.

Trump raises safety concerns

Trump’s remarks came just two days after he reportedly assured FIFA president Gianni Infantino that Iranian players would be welcomed at the World Cup despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to the World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety”.His comments came amid heightened geopolitical tensions following a war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, which has raised concerns over Iran’s potential participation in the tournament.

Iran responds strongly

In response, Iran’s national team said the World Cup is governed by FIFA and not by any single country or individual, adding that the team had earned its place in the tournament through strong performances as quoted by AFP.“The World Cup is a historic and international event and its governing body is FIFA, not any individual or country,” the statement said.The team also stressed that Iran had qualified on merit, pointing to its impressive performances during the qualification campaign.“Iran’s national team, with strength and decisive victories achieved by the brave sons of Iran, was among the first teams to qualify for this major tournament,” the statement further added.

Questions raised over host responsibilities

Iran also suggested that if the host nation cannot ensure safety for participating teams, its role as host should be questioned. “Certainly no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup,” read the statement, adding, “The only country that can be excluded is one that merely carries the title of ‘host’ yet lacks the ability to provide security for teams participating in this global event.”The statement appeared to be a direct response to Trump’s warning about safety concerns.

Trump reassures safety for the tournament

Later, Trump posted another message emphasising that the United States is ready to host the global event safely. “The United States of America looks very much forward to hosting the FIFA World Cup. Ticket sales are ‘through the roof!’”Despite the political tensions surrounding Iran’s participation, FIFA has not indicated any plans to alter the qualification status of the team.

Mexico is set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup along with the United States and Canada in June-July. But recent violence after the death of cartel boss Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, widely known as El Mencho, has raised serious concerns among fans about whether World Cup matches in Mexico will be safe.

El Mencho, the leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG),
was wounded in Tapalpa, Jalisco, around two hours from World Cup host city Guadalajara, and later died while being flown to Mexico City. After news of his death spread in the country, cartel members reportedly started burning vehicles and blocking roads in several Mexican states, creating a huge law-and-order situation.

The violence also had an impact on sports in the country. Four high-level football matches were reportedly postponed on Sunday. Two top-tier games – Querétaro vs Juárez FC in the men’s league and Chivas vs América in the women’s league – were called off. Two second-division matches were also suspended as a precaution.

Mexico’s national team is scheduled to play a friendly against Iceland at the Corregidora Stadium in Querétaro on Wednesday. As of now, the Mexican Football Federation has not officially postponed the match, but if the violence persists, there is a high chance the match may be postponed, cancelled, or relocated.

Fans raise safety concerns

The unrest has triggered widespread reaction on social media, especially with Mexico set to host matches in the 2026 World Cup. Some users shared videos of smoke arising from the streets of Mexican cities, while others shared photos and videos of heavily armed cartel members dressed in what looked like military-style uniforms allegedly getting mobilised.

We have less than 4 months to the commencement of the FIFA world cup and there are chaos in Mexico already? Can FIFA assure football fans that are going to the US and Mexico that they’re safe?

Was it a mistake to host the World Cup in these countries?

We have little time… pic.twitter.com/W5CBgUXcMH

— JJC (@Johnniejustcome) February 23, 2026

Crazy man el mencho and the cartel may have ruined the fifa World Cup that was gonna be in Mexico what a shame 💔

— V2 (@V2MetaX) February 23, 2026

FIFA literally couldn’t have picked worse countries to host the world cup man. Mexico and the USA are a fucken mess😭😭😭

— Jangle leg (@kwets11) February 23, 2026

This is the country where $FIFA currently plans to hold the first match of the 2026 World Cup.
CA: rY8D3HGVffENSRwHa44tdWwJkU4g81UnGpVJyjipump#Mexico https://t.co/t5bzAr5C4U

— Cryptolou (@Cryptoloudev) February 23, 2026

And Mexico is expected to co host the forth coming FIFA world cup. It’s totally unsafe https://t.co/IjJ3T0NQmy

— Olujide Olusola 🇳🇬 (@Jide_Olusola) February 23, 2026

I suggest fifa cancel the Mexico from hosting the World Cup for the safety of the fans

— Desmond Des Des (@jk102801) February 23, 2026

Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, is scheduled to stage four FIFA World Cup matches in June, including two involving South Korea. Mexico, Spain, Uruguay and Colombia are also expected to play there during the tournament.

Despite the tension, not all sporting events have been affected. The Mexican Open, an ATP tennis tournament, is scheduled to begin at the GNP Arena in Acapulco. Organisers have said that the tournament’s operations will continue as normal.

Brazillian forward Neymar is considering retirement as injuries and age continue to trouble the 34-year-old star. With the FIFA World Cup coming up this summer, Neymar is unsure of his place in Brazil’s squad and the retirement claim has further added to the disappointment of his fans.

In a recent interview, he said that he would want to retire by the end of this year with injuries consistently following him wherever he goes.

The star striker had moved to his boyhood club Santos last season and extended his contract at the club for this year as well. However, due to injuries he has regularly been out of the side due to injury in his first season.

Neymar contemplating retirement

Neymar returned to action last week after a knee surgery due to which he missed the start of Brazillian season. He said that he is taking life as it comes and not thing too far ahead in the future.

“I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year,” Neymar said to Brazilian online channel Caze. “It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now.”

He stressed that 2026 was important for him with World Cup coming up.

“This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it’s a World Cup year, and for me too,” he added.

Neymar last played for Brazil in October 2023 and recently also said that it will be a challenge for him to get back into the side. He remains Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances but injury concerns maybe a roadblock in his path to the showpiece tournament.

Brazil have been drawn in Group C at the 2026 World Cup alongside Haiti, Scotland and last edition’s semifinalists Morocco.

Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal are reportedly looking to appoint former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The current Benfica head coach could be open to a potential move after Roberto Martinez departs.

Portugal announced Martinez as their head coach in January 2023. He has done well, winning the UEFA Nations League last year and qualifying for the upcoming World Cup. As per ESPN, he could leave after the Mundial this summer following the expiration of his contract.

The Portugal Football Federation (FPF) is looking to bring in Jose Mourinho as their next head coach. The former Real Madrid manager spoke about potentially managing a national team in January last year, saying (h/t GOAL):

“I want to play a European Championship or a World Cup and unite a country around a team, as I have already done many times with the clubs. I want to do it for football and what this sport represents. It will be incredible.”

Mourinho is currently Benfica’s head coach, having joined them in September last year after leaving Fenerbahce, signing a two-year contract. As per ESPN, if he leaves the Portuguese giants, former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim could take over.

Former Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho on managing Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal at World Cup

Last year, Jose Mourinho was linked with the Brazil job before another former Real Madrid manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was appointed. The Portuguese head coach asserted that his “destiny” lies in managing Portugal at a FIFA World Cup.

He said:

“My destiny, in terms of internationals, is to play in a World Cup with the Portuguese national team. I never considered coaching the Brazilian national team.”

“My first experience has to be with Portugal, and then people have to understand that I’m a professional and that I can coach other teams, but always teams with which I have something that connects me. Brazil, obviously, because of the historical relationship between our countries, England because it’s my home, Italy, I worked there for several years, but my first experience with the national team has to be mine,” he added.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear if Cristiano Ronaldo will still play for Portugal after the World Cup. The 40-year-old has confirmed that it is his final tournament, but hasn’t confirmed his retirement plans.

Cristiano Ronaldo played under Mourinho at Real Madrid, recording 168 goals and 49 assists in 164 games. They won the LaLiga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España together.