Donald Trump has claimed the USA will host the World Cup and 2028 Olympics because "they rigged the election".
Speaking at a reception for the international football governing body Fifa in New York, Mr Trump claimed he "was supposed to not be here right now", a clear reference to the second and final four-year presidential term he would have served had he won the 2020 election.
These remarks follow a primetime television address to the nation on Thursday, where he renewed his unsubstantiated claims that the White House race he lost to Joe Biden had been stolen from him, despite evidence to the contrary.
His sweeping and disputed allegations included "sinister" meddling by China and a "deep state" cover-up.
Mr Trump’s accusations of foreign interference and voter fraud emerge ahead of crucial mid-term elections in November, which could see Republicans lose control of one or both houses of Congress. This has led critics to speculate that he is paving the way to challenge the results should they not favour his party.
During his first term in the White House, the US secured both the 2026 World Cup, along with co-hosts Canada and Mexico, and the 2028 summer Olympics, which will be staged in Los Angeles.
Speaking at the Fifa event at Trump Tower in Manhattan, Mr Trump said: “All the way back in 2018, it was my honour to help secure the World Cup for North America, and never thinking that it would turn out to be what it turned out to be.
“As fate would have it, I’m president. I said, you know, I was supposed to not be here right now.
“I was supposed to be president for eight years, the polls showed it, everyone showed it.
“They rigged the election, and what did I get? I got the World Cup, I got the Olympics…”
Referring to the recent landmark anniversary of America’s independence from Britain, the president added: “I tried to take credit for 250 years, but that didn’t work out as well.”
In his speech, Mr Trump also made reference to the controversial overturning of the ban given to US striker Folarin Balogun following his red card against Bosnia, after he personally lobbied Fifa boss Gianni Infantino.
The decision, which enabled Balogun to play in the team’s knockout match against Belgium, sparked an international backlash.
Mr Trump, who is to attend Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina, said: “This has been a tournament like no other, filled with fierce competition, unforgettable moments.
“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 recalled: “I said, ‘I’d like to wage a complaint’. And actually, I didn’t. I had no idea what was going to happen.
“But you know, it’s so much better the way it worked out because there’s no controversy.”
Pointing to Belgium’s 4-1 victory, Mr Trump added: “They won the game, and our team had all of its players.”
He told Infantino: “You made another great decision… I know you’ll never get credit.”
Elsewhere in his speech, Mr Trump also suggested the US should be chosen again to host the World Cup, but added: “This time we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”
And highlighting the experience of fans, Mr Trump, whose mother is from Scotland, made special mention of the Tartan Army and how they “took over the streets of Boston”.
He said: “A lot of countries came here not knowing what to think, and they love the United States.”
Mr Trump added: “We’re doing great. It’s the golden age of America.”
