Current Affairs Of Pakistan & World: Inside the US’ World Cup power play

Inside the US’ World Cup power play

Jun 12, 2026

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With help from Eli Okun, Ali Bianco and Irie Sentner

Good Friday morning, it’s Sophia Cai, your West Wing Playbook co-author dropping into your inbox this morning with the latest on the ground from my World Cup side-quest beat. Get in touch.

In today’s Playbook …

— The power brokers behind the first tri-hosted North American World Cup.

— Why Trump caved on the FISA fight and another round of Iran strikes.

— The Boldfaces: Marco Rubio, Gavin Newsom, Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Barack Obama, Jay Clayton, Chuck Schumer, Pete Buttigieg, Chris Klomp, John Cornyn and more.

DRIVING THE DAY

MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and California Gov. Gavin Newsom — two potential 2028 rivals — will represent the country in Los Angeles today for the United States’ World Cup opener against Paraguay.

But the power brokers of global soccer are gathered here in Mexico City.

FIFA flew the presidents of football federations from around the world to the Mexican capital for the tournament's opening match yesterday, putting them up at the five-star Four Seasons for Mexico’s World Cup opener at the legendary Estadio Azteca.

The tournament set up: Mexico got the opener. The U.S. got the final draw and 75 percent of the matches. And Canada got the FIFA Congress.

North America’s path to win the World Cup from the global soccer establishment was a long and complicated one, as your author reports in today’s newly relaunched POLITICO Magazine (subscribe here). And after a 16-year journey that ran through Qatar, DOJ raids, a global lobbying campaign and the Biden and Trump administrations, the World Cup is finally underway.

The story starts — as not many do — with Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger and Barack Obama, all of whom backed a U.S. World Cup bid that arrived in Zurich in 2010 expecting victory.

Instead, FIFA awarded the tournament to Qatar — shocking everyone.

The vote helped trigger a chain of events that ultimately led to investigations by the Justice Department under Eric Holder and the dramatic 2015 raids that brought down much of FIFA's old guard.

Out of the wreckage came the United Bid.Soccer federation presidents struck a deal in 2016 and 2017 to have the three countries — whose diplomatic relations were under Trumpian strain — bid together for the World Cup. The deal was struck between soccer power brokers in boozy hotel bars in Zurich, Hawaii and Aruba, and the details were hashed out in contractual fine print with American, Canadian and Mexican cities that raised their hands to host.

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Rahm Emanuel was at the center of one memorable showdown in Chicago, where the then-mayor literally wrote handwritten caveats onto FIFA's bid documents. When he was told he couldn’t do that, Emanuel walked away from the process and torched the deal publicly.

North American organizers embarked on a global election campaign to win the bid. They crisscrossed Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, pitching the tournament as a continental partnership at a moment when Trump was threatening NAFTA and feuding with U.S. neighbors.

Meanwhile, Morocco was making inroads with its own bid in Europe by appealing to language, culture and colonial historical ties. France — whose architects, engineers and construction firms stood to benefit from Morocco’s need to build or renovate stadiums and transportation infrastructure — bolstered the effort.

But the North Americans courted everyone from major powers to tiny countries like Latvia and Luxembourg, whose votes counted exactly the same. By the final weeks, campaign operatives were working from a London war room, dispatching teams around the world on red-eye flights in pursuit of undecided votes.

Even in the final days before the June 2018 vote in Moscow, the campaign's leaders remained haunted by their loss to Qatar eight years earlier.

Internal vote counts suggested the United Bid was headed for victory, but organizers worried federations could defect at the last minute and trigger a stampede away from the frontrunner.

“You lose a couple dozen votes and all of a sudden it’s a tie game,” bid chair Carlos Cordeiro recalled.

When the ballots were finally counted, the United Bid crushed Morocco 134 votes to 65, securing the first World Cup ever shared by three countries.

On today’s Playbook Podcast: Megan Messerly and Myah Ward discuss Trump’s climbdown from the FISA fight and his threats against Iran.

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THE DOWNLOAD

SPY GAMES: Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act will expire tonight — and remain dead for more than a week at least. What will that actually mean? The controversial spy tool is considered a key piece of the nation’s counterterrorism intelligence. Lawmakers aren’t certain about how much of that might be damaged (or not) by the lapse, since FISA can keep gathering information for current operations, NOTUS’ Avani Kalra and Kadia Goba report.

But the end is — probably — in sight, after Trump announced he’ll tap Manhattan U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the DNI nomination. The choice earned positive reactions from Hill Republicans and some Democrats, but top Senate Intelligence Committee Democrat Mark Warner (Va.) said Bill Pulte can’t be acting DNI at all as a condition for reauthorization. The panel will hold a confirmation hearing for Clayton on Wednesday.
Clayton was chosen, in part, to “quell all the bitching” as one administration official told Dasha. And multiple senior Hill staffers speculated Trump may not have fully understood, or cared, the timeline Congress was facing. Trump has “always hated the ODNI role,” one told Dasha. How will Clayton navigate that?

Back at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where many career prosecutors “begrudgingly accepted” Clayton, staffers feel fresh concern over who might replace him, POLITICO’s Erica Orden reports.

WAR REPORT: All eyes are on movement toward a U.S.-Iran agreement today after Trump’s cancellation of attacks last night — three hours before they were due to begin, per NBC’s Mosheh Gains and Courtney Kube. Trump’s reversal came after officials from Qatar, the UAE and Pakistan beseeched him to stand down, Dasha and Felicia Schwartz scooped. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, on the other hand, was left out of the loop, per Axios’ Barak Ravid. The pullback appears to be a rapid abandonment of Trump’s missile diplomacy strategy, POLITICO’s Paul McLeary and colleagues report.

THE FRONT PAGE

SCHUMER PUFFS HIS CHEST: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told POLITICO’s Jordain Carney in a mini-redemption tour that some of his moves are paying off as the party’s fortunes improve. He’s gotten many of the candidates he wanted in key races, and Schumer contends that Dems’ shutdown fights better positioned them for the midterms.

BIG FRIDAY READ: End the HIV epidemic by 2030? Trump’s first-term pledge — and efforts to achieve it — have been undermined by major funding cuts in his second, Alice Miranda Ollstein and Megan Messerly report in a must-read POLITICO Magazine feature. NIH and CDC leader Jay Bhattacharya insists they’re still shooting for 2030, and with medical breakthroughs, “I’m filled with hope.” But much of the rest of the public health world says DOGE, diversity bans and public health cuts imperiled the drive to end the epidemic.

MAYOR PETE ON THE ROAD: Pete Buttigieg made an appearance at Rainbow PUSH Coalition HQ yesterday for the organization’s annual convention, the first since the death of founder Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. In a wide-ranging conversation, Buttigieg argued Democrats should push for structural changes, including ending partisan gerrymandering, overhauling campaign finance laws, restructuring the Supreme Court and eliminating the Electoral College, POLITICO’s Shia Kapos writes in.

More travel intrigue: Buttigieg is backing Chris Jones to represent Arkansas’ 2nd Congressional District and is expected to travel to Little Rock on June 19 to campaign for him, Playbook’s Adam Wren scoops.

ACROSS THE POND: “The small-town voters deciding the UK’s future are demanding change, our focus group found,” by POLITICO’s Tim Ross: “Residents are deeply frustrated with politics — and some would rather burn the system down than back Labour candidate Andy Burnham to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer.”

LISTEN TO THIS: For “The Conversation” this week, Dasha spoke with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at POLITICO’s Energy Summit about the agency’s approach to climate change, energy prices and environmental regulation. He also argued EPA should not “get creative” with powers he says Congress hasn’t granted. “If Congress wants me to regulate the heck out of greenhouse gas emissions, change the law.” Listen and subscribe on Apple or Spotify

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5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. REWRITING HISTORY: Trump is considering a congressional gambit to expunge the two impeachments from his first term, WSJ’s Annie Linskey and colleagues scooped. The idea is to push for a resolution after the midterms; Speaker Mike Johnson discussed it with Trump, Alan Dershowitz and Jay Sekulow. But it would likely be symbolic — and difficult to pull off.

2. HHS’ CHRIS KLOMP ERA: The department’s new day-to-day manager has focused on staffing up, improving morale and pushing forward MAHA policy ideas, POLITICO’s Carmen Paun reports. Supporters credit him with bringing stability under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., though one former official grumbles that Klomp is undermining Kennedy.

3. BILL OF HEALTH: Mark Shirley was chosen to lead the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, NOTUS’ Paige Winfield Cunningham scooped. Notably, the HHS official who selected him was … his daughter, Malia Shirley. Meanwhile, a new Trump administration policy suggests health insurers giving loans to people who can’t afford out-of-pocket procedures, NYT’s Reed Abelson reports. Critics decried the idea as a pathway to medical debt.

4. JOHN CORNYN UNCORKED: The Texas senator told NYT’s Carl Hulse that he understands his primary defeat and isn’t seeking revenge against Trump … but won’t be shy to speak his mind. “Freedom.” “Leverage.” “Cards to play.” Cornyn says Trump shouldn’t demand absolute loyalty, and he wants the IRS deal not to scrutinize Trump or his family undone: “I think it is going to be a pretty bumpy ride for the next seven months.”

5. ACCOUNTABILITY WATCH: “The Trump Administration Keeps Ghosting Its Congressional Watchdog,” by NOTUS’ Jose Pagliery: “A growing number of federal agencies are either refusing to provide the Government Accountability Office access to information or ignoring the congressional watchdog altogether. … Officials at [a May] meeting cited the Office of Management and Budget, Housing and Urban Development, the Commerce Department, the Education Department and the Small Business Administration as particularly noncooperative.”

THE WEEKEND AHEAD

FRIDAY PROGRAMS …

C-SPAN “Ceasefire”: Clifford May and Evelyn Farkas … Alex Vogel and Dan Kanninen.

PBS “Washington Week”: special broadcast on “The Next 250 — Considering America’s Future,” with Tim Alberta, Idrees Kahloon, Ashley Parker, Peter Baker, Susan Glasser and Stephen Hayes.

SUNDAY SO FAR …

Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures”: Senate Majority Leader John Thune … Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) … Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) … Adam Bry.

NBC “Meet the Press”: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries … Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) … Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) … Steve Kornacki with new polling. Panel: Monica Alba, Mike Dubke, Jonathan Martin and Steve Ricchetti.

CBS “Face the Nation”: Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) … Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) … Gary Cohn.

NewsNation “The Hill Sunday”: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) … Mike Pence. Panel: Sabrina Siddiqui, Abe Greenwald and Michelle Price.

MS NOW “Connect with Jacob Soboroff,” which premieres this weekend: Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) … Eddie Huang … Peppermint.

CNN “State of the Union”: Stephen A. Smith. Panel: Scott Jennings, Brad Todd, Xochitl Hinojosa and Jamal Simmons.

PBS “Compass Point”: Arkady Ostrovsky.

TALK OF THE TOWN

UP IN THE AIR — A delegation of prominent Republicans and Democrats from Michigan and the Midwest were delayed for more than an hour on a Delta flight from Washington to Detroit yesterday, Playbook’s Adam Wren reports. The reason the pilot gave angered them even more: There could be no traffic out of DCA because of an airshow rehearsal for the UFC event Sunday. Among those on the plane: Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.).

Asked about the snafu, a White House spokesperson said: “There were planned, temporary airspace holds put in place while crews performed a rehearsal in relation to Sunday’s historic UFC Freedom 250 event.”

The pilot informed the peeved passengers that if they wanted to register their frustration, they should call their congressperson.

PLAYBOOK METRO SECTION — Trump yesterday threatened to “take back Washington and run it on a federal basis” if democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George wins the D.C. mayoral election, per the Washington Examiner.

CENTER OF ATTENTION — The Trump-aligned Kennedy Center board voted yesterday to appeal a federal court ruling that demanded his name be removed from the building, CNN’s Betsy Klein reports. One source likened the meeting to “Veep,” saying Trump called in from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s phone and complained about the judge’s wife.

HEADS UP — Large “86 47” numbers were seen in the National Mall grass — the numbers, of course, that led to James Comey’s criminal indictment for allegedly threatening Trump. The Park Police are investigating the “deranged vandalism,” the Interior Department said. More from ABC

SCENE SETTER — “‘Vegas’ on the South Lawn: Trump Unveils the U.F.C. ‘Claw,’” by NYT’s Shawn McCreesh: “Jack Posobiec, the right-wing commentator best known for spreading the ‘Pizzagate’ paranoia, stood with a White House official next to the octagonal ring down in the nexus of the claw and looked around in awe. ‘It’s literally Vegas,’ Mr. Posobiec said excitedly. ‘Vegas is in D.C. now!’”

OUT AND ABOUT — Meridian International Center hosted an event honoring UFC’s Dana White with the Meridian Global Leadership Award yesterday evening. SPOTTED: Anne White, Brian Rolapp, Mark Shapiro, Laura Sanko, John Ourand, David and Catherine Bohigian, Deborah Lehr, Cate Dillon, Victoria Roberts, Shannon Sprenger, Rob Placek, David Shaw, Rick Wade, Woody Johnson, Brad Knox, Sahra English, David Malpass, Lisa Shoemaker, Steve Morrissey, Georgian Ambassador Tamar Taliashvili, Serbian Ambassador Dragan Šutanovac, Ana Irene Delgado, Paolo Zampoli, Brendon Plack, Zach Leonsis, Nick Khan, Lawrence Epstein, Dean Garfield, Sally Roberts and Kaitlan Collins.

— Disney hosted an advance screening of “Toy Story 5,” only the second in the country, yesterday at the National Air and Space Museum, with Woody, Jessie, Buzz and Mickey on hand. Disney and Starlight Children’s Foundation will also host a special screening at Children’s National Hospital in D.C. next week. SPOTTED: Eriq Gardner, David Shepardson, Rick Klein, Jackie Kucinich, Garrett Haake, Ed O’Keefe, Steve Chenevey, Mo Elleithee, Sara Fagen, John Lin, Tiffany Guarascio, Joel and Megan Miller, Mary McGinty, Giulia DiGuglielmo, Brendon Plack, Mehgan Perez-Acosta, Sabrina Siddiqui, David Jefferson, Susan Fox, Bill Bailey and Maria Kirby.

— SPOTTED at a party for Hussain Abdul-Hussain’s new book, “The Arab Case for Israel” ($18.99), hosted by Morgan Ortagus and Antoun Sehnaoui at L’Avant-Garde last night: Josh and Ali Rogin, Michael Crowley, Andrew McKenna, Aishah Hasnie, Jessica Lycos and Kyle Kamrooz, Katherine Doyle, Justin Sayfie, Cliff May, Rob Satloff, Carine Hajjar, David Schenker and Oubai Shahbandar.

— The National Digital Roundtable and the Austrian Embassy hosted a breakfast panel yesterday morning on “The Future of News: Trust, Creators, and AI in a Changing Media Landscape,” moderated by Social Driver’s Anthony Shop and featuring Jenny Abamu, Katerina Eva Matsa, Tony P and Peter Cherukuri. SPOTTED: Michael Tribble, Adriana Brassart, Andreas Sandre, Ian Smith, Jack Fleming, Carly Elkins, Patricia Hernandez, Eva McKend, Annys Shin and Finja Draxler.

WHITE HOUSE DEPARTURE LOUNGE — Former Federal Acquisition Service leader Josh Gruenbaum has left the administration, Jewish Insider’s Gabby Deutch scooped, though he’ll remain a senior adviser to the Board of Peace.

TRANSITIONS — Former DNI Avril Haines will be the next president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. She most recently has been at Oxford and Columbia. More from the NYT … Bruce Andrews will be chief external affairs officer at Nvidia. He currently works at Covington & Burling, and is a Commerce Department alum. …

… Christina Polizzi is joining Future Now as head of strategic comms. She previously worked at Climate Power. … Democracy Forward is adding Kate Connors as chief public affairs officer and Cari Simon and LaNita King as senior directors for community and engagement.

WEEKEND WEDDING — Michelle Hackman, an immigration policy reporter at the WSJ, and Daniel Asher, a senior counsel at the Treasury Department, got married Sunday at Temple Israel of Great Neck on Long Island. The 450-person Persian Jewish celebration included a sushi bar at the pre-ceremony smorgasbord, a monogrammed dance floor and copious pink roses and peonies. The couple met on Hinge. Pic … Another pic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) … POLITICO’s Carrie Budoff Brown … Mayra Macías … Dag Vega … Bloomberg’s Kevin Sheekey … Alex Castellanos … Rabbi Levi Shemtov … Chris Lu … Lilia Dashevsky … Michael Finnegan … Joyce Kazadi ... Eli Zupnick ... FICO’s Dan Archer … Matt Wolking … former Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham … Matt Mowers … former Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.) … Peter Schechter … Mort Rosenblum … Julie Andreeff Jensen … Luis Miranda … Morgan Viña of National Security of America and Stealth Startup … Bryce Bozadjian … Abigail Ross Hopper

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Correction: Yesterday’s Playbook misstated when the Supreme Court’s term ends. It ends in October.

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