Trump pledges support for Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram

The North American group faces one rival bid from Morocco, with the decision by world football’s governing body FIFA to come on June 13.

“I hope all African countries and countries throughout the world, that we also will be supporting you, and that they will likewise support us in our bid along with Canada and Mexico for the 2026 World Cup,” Trump said.

“We will be watching very closely, and any help they can give us in that bid we would appreciate,” he said.

During the press conference, Trump also raised the issue of the killings of Christians, in an apparent reference to the April 24 attack on a central Nigerian church where 18 people, including two priests, were murdered.

“We are deeply concerned by religious violence in Nigeria, including the burning of churches and the killing and persecution of Christians,” he said.

“We encourage Nigeria and the federal, state and local leaders to do everything in their power to immediately secure the affected communities and to protect innocent civilians of all faiths, including Muslims and including Christians.”