Two big football tournaments will be played in the USA this summer. There will be professionals like the Haitian Fafà Picault alongside Lionel Messi, which US President Donald Trump does not want to see in his country. For FIFA President Gianni Infantino, football starts in a “new era” under these circumstances.
On June 14th, two “Major Sporting Events”, both in the same sport, begin in the USA. The club World Cup, which is held for the first time with 32 teams, begins with the game between Al Aly from Egypt and Inter Miami. The Gold Cup starts with the game between Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
The Gold Cup is what the European Championship for the UEFA is for the Concacaf continental association. Unlike the association responsible for North, Central America and the Caribbean, the European Football Union would never come up with the idea of starting the European Championship to a club World Cup in parallel, in which the clubs also have the right to get to the players.
On Messi’s side instead of for the National team
Inter Miami now makes use of this right that the club that FIFA President Gianni Infantino absolutely wanted at the club World Cup because World Star Lionel Messi plays for him.
Fabrice-Jean, called Fafà, Picault has been a teammate from Messi since the beginning of the calendar year. He was born in New York a good 34 years ago. The United States is its home. His paternal grandfather took a taxi in New York for more than 50 years.
However, the roots of Fafà Picault are in Haiti. His mother’s grandfather played football for Haitis national team. Picault now does that too.
First USA under Klinsmann, now Haiti
In youth, Picault also played for the USA, and later in the A national team after the then national coach Jürgen Klinsmann nominated him. Under the German world champion, he played his first of two international matches for the USA in 2016, and his club was FC St. Pauli in the 2nd Bundesliga at the time.
For Haiti, Picault is now coming to 15 caps, and although he is busy with Miami at the club World Cup, he could still play his 16th game at the Gold Cup. Picault is listed in the official squad. Should Miami leave after the group phase and survive the group phase, it would be at least possible in time.
Fafà Picault: home USA, roots in Haiti
At the start against Saudi Arabia
Haiti starts the Gold Cup on Monday night after German. The opponent will be Saudi Arabia, Concacaf invited the team from the Asian association.
In a way, the state is also host of the Persian Golf. At least he is the largest donor, because the potent sponsors of both Concacaf and the Gold Cup come from Saudi Arabia, including the sovereign fund.
The FIFA also receives many million US dollars from Saudi Arabia, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly as with the billion deal with the streaming service, which will show all games of the club World Cup without being necessary.
Infantino raves about everything
Two Major Sporting Events in the USA are hanging on the drip of Saudi Arabia, which will host the World Cup for men in 2034. Gianni Infantino already raves about how the President of the World Association FIFA is currently not coming out of enthusiasm anyway. He calls the “epitome of a Big Bang” the bloated club World Cup, speaks of a “new era for football”.
Ban of entry also against Haiti – but exceptions for football
Infantinos mantra is that football combines the world. This is cynical with a view of the Saudi Arabian crown prince. Mohammed bin Salman, who dictatorially rules, suppresses opinions and lets critics block away. Human rights organizations warn that the situation in Saudi Arabia gets worse instead of better.
But that also applies to the United States in Donald Trump’s second term. The President largely defines law and law. He suppresses protests against his migration policy with the help of the national guard. Pictures from Los Angeles have been determining the headlines for days. In the California city on the Pacific, both the club World Cup and the Gold Cup games are played.
San Diego is located almost two hours away from Los Angeles. Haiti will compete against Saudi Arabia there. In the ticket portal, it is much easier to count the tickets sold than those available.
All blue places are still available for the game Haiti against Saudi Arabia.
Even those who wanted to come to San Diego from the arms and troubled Haiti to see their national team has no chance. Donald Trump has once again issued a travel ban. A complete ban applies to the residents of twelve countries, which also includes Haiti.
Trump sets the sound: “Hundreds of thousands Haitian aliens “
“Hundreds of thousands of Haitian aliens” came to the United States during the US President Joe Biden. That is in the decreeand so the sound is set. Haitians would form criminal networks and endanger national security, is listed as a reason for the travel ban.
In the decree, exceptions are listed for all athletes, trainers, further necessary staff and close relatives of this group, which at the World Cup (listed in the singular without the year, probably the World Cup 2026), Olympic Games (“Olympics”, i.e. the summer games 2028 in Los Angeles) and participants in other “Major Sporting Event” (major sporting events), which is determined by the Secretary of State as such become, i.e. from Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.
Entry ban also against the Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup
There is no statement from Rubio and not finding a document that defines the club World Cup and Goldcup as Major Sporting Event. But there is indirect evidence.
Fafà Picault’s teammate and the associated staff came from Haiti’s home for the Gold Cup.
For example, proof of the club World Cup is possible via Mehmet Taremi. The striker is in the Inter Milan squad. He is Iranian and has also qualified for the World Cup with his national team in the coming year. According to Trump’s current will, no fans from Iran will be allowed to support their team in 2026. The same would also apply to Haiti, which has a good chance of reaching the last round in qualification.