At the July 2026 NATO summit, heads of state decided not to mention the global tournament in any conversation with former President Donald Trump.
The decision follows the United States men's soccer team’s defeat in the tournament and worries that Trump would become irritated.
Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo said he would avoid football references with the former president.
Analysts said the USMNT’s tournament loss brings back talk of a “sports curse linked to Trump”.
The avoidance reflects the group’s intention to keep the summit centered on the security agenda.