World Cup Disgrace

 


 

“When the world is in turmoil, turn to sports to ease discomfort.” Dr. BLR

 

If there ever was a time for the world to try to come together, now would be that time. The wars in Ukraine and Russia, Israel’s genocide in Palestine, Israel and America’s actions against Iran, Israel’s war against Lebanon and Syria, and the xenophobia occurring in South Africa against other Africans are keeping the world distracted and at odds. 

Enter the FIFA World Cup. A soccer tournament featuring 48 countries, meant to bring everyone together and set aside our political, social, and religious differences to play a sport played worldwide. The world has been waiting, and so have I, until we watched the Trump administration's actions toward some of the teams and their players.

Looking at the social media newsfeeds, watching Senegalese players disembark from an airplane and be patted down as if they were criminals, watching Haiti’s national jersey be denied, watching Iranian players be unable to stay in the United States, and watching Iraqi officials be questioned as they attempt entry into the United States is heartbreaking. Iranian and Haitian fans are barred from entering the country. Uruguayan soccer players were checked by sniffing dogs like suspects on the side of a highway. This tournament is a world event. The host countries must undergo a rigorous bidding process to be granted the privilege of hosting the participating countries in the tournament. This venture is not the United States alone. Our partners in the Americas, Mexico and Canada, will be viewed as champions of the tournament when it is completed. While the host countries dictate immigration, customs, policing, and security within their borders, our counterparts have so far done a better job. 

All internal tournament decisions are made under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Unfortunately, President Trump will undoubtedly taint the matches with his barbaric treatment of soccer players, who are primarily people of color. Is it discrimination? Who am I to say, but the optics are obvious.

In 1994, I had the privilege of being assigned to the Italian soccer team for the World Cup as a detective with the New Jersey State Police. New Jersey was one of nine venues where the teams played. As the host nation, the U.S. Men’s Soccer team automatically qualified. I had the time of my life, even though I wasn’t a big soccer fan; the hype and hoopla surrounding the spectacle will forever be part of my fond memories. The crowds were excited and came out in droves. Players were treated like rock stars, and fans were given access to them while the players stayed at their respective hotels. Visitors from across the world were allowed entry into the country without controversy. The world was different back then, and the leadership viewed the tournament in a different light. 

As I prepare to watch the matches over the next five weeks, I am torn. I want to believe that, going forward, things will go well, but rumors abound of a possible law-enforcement presence by a particular department, which tells me the proverbial shit will hit the fan. The cruelty displayed thus far leaves much to be desired. Moreover, the fact that the average fan cannot afford the cost of a ticket and transportation to the venues has been a nightmare. 

Many people have decided to boycott the tournament for a range of reasons. I blame this on President Trump and on Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, who has been in charge since 1996. President Infantino will have to account for all the decisions made during this year’s tournament. His first faux pas was presenting President Trump with the “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World,” in recognition of his efforts to broker international ceasefires and promote global peace. You cannot make this up. Didn’t he just start a war in Iran? If kissing ass had a face and a name, it would be his. Heads need to roll, and people need to be let go. 

World Cup 2026 is projected to generate approximately $8.9 billion. Going forward, if FIFA wants to maintain even a semblance of legitimacy, it must remain apolitical and avoid symbolic gestures, especially during deeply divisive times. Until then, I will refer to the acronym FIFA as: Fucking Idiots Finally Acknowledged. 

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