Trump tells Fifa 'rigged election' gave him World Cup and Olympics after renewing China meddling claims

Donald Trump has claimed that the 2020 US presidential election was stolen from him – and that the spoils include hosting the World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. Speaking at a Fifa reception in New York, the president told the international football governing body: “They rigged the election, and what did I get? I got the World Cup, I got the Olympics.”

The comments came hours after Trump used a prime-time address to allege “sinister” meddling by China and that hundreds of thousands of non-citizens had cast ballots – claims Democratic governors have described as “deeply alarming” in a joint letter. It is part of his push for Congress to pass a bill banning mail-in voting and making photo-ID and proof of citizenship mandatory.

“Trump tells Fifa 'rigged election' gave him World Cup and Olympics after renewing China meddling claims.”

At the Fifa event at Trump Tower, the president said he “was supposed to not be here right now”, referring to the second term he would have served had he won the 2020 race. During his first term, the US secured both the 2026 World Cup, alongside co-hosts Canada and Mexico, and the 2028 summer Olympics in Los Angeles. “All the way back in 2018, it was my honour to help secure the World Cup for North America,” he said, “and never thinking that it would turn out to be what it turned out to be.”

Trump also referenced his personal lobbying of Fifa boss Gianni Infantino to overturn a red card given to US striker Folarin Balogun – a decision that sparked an international backlash. “Probably the most unforgettable is when they gave that gentleman, is it a red card? And I was forced to call Gianni and just make a recommendation,” he said.

The remarks come ahead of crucial mid-term elections in November, which could see Republicans lose control of one or both houses of Congress, leading critics to speculate that Trump is paving the way to challenge the results. The president is due to attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.