“As a general rule, we cannot comment on specific statements in connection with the bidding process. We can only refer to the FIFA Regulations for the selection of the venue for the final competition of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and in particular to the Bid Rules of Conduct incorporated therein.”

“Member Associations agree and acknowledge that activities conducted by the Governments, as well as the governments of the states and proposed Host Cities and further stakeholders (as applicable) of the Host Countries, which are related to the members of the football community and/or football in general may adversely affect the integrity of the Bidding Process and create an undue influence on the Bidding Process.

Member Association(s) shall refrain from attempting to influence members of the FIFA Council, the actual or potential delegates of the FIFA Congress or any other FIFA consultants or other officials, in particular by offering any kind of benefits for specific behavior.

[The rule] mostly concerns soccer federations’ bylaws and countries’ laws, and cross-pollination involving the two entities. FIFA wants the federations operating independently. But it has been known to inconsistently and selectively enforce the rule. Trump’s tweet would seemingly be worth a warning at the very least.

But the bigger issue [with Trump’s tweet] is that, because of FIFA’s rule, the United States government’s “support” of other nations at a political level has nothing to do with who will vote for whom on June 13. Countries don’t vote; their soccer federations do. If politicians are influencing those federations, that constitutes government interference, and FIFA can take action.