White nationalism and the World Cup
As the World Cup winds down, I will have time to reflect on the many games played over several weeks. I have been a fan since 1994, when I worked for the New Jersey State Police as an Intelligence Officer and was assigned to the Italian National Team. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was the thrill of my career. Twenty-four teams from different countries qualified to play in several venues across the United States. At the time, soccer was not a dominant sport in the United States, but internationally it was the king.
The players were extraordinary, going out of their way to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. The Italians were the favorites, and they believed they’d reach the finals, so they rented an entire hotel in Far Hills, N.J. They brought their own food, chefs, and training staff. I was thoroughly impressed by their confidence. The players came from across Italy. Unfortunately, they lost the final match to Brazil, 3-2.
Looking back at some pictures of that 1994 team, I noticed a lack of diversity. But it was Italy, so all the players should have been white Italians, right? I suppose so, but I wasn’t paying attention to that issue then. So let’s fast-forward to the 2026 World Cup.
The number of teams that qualified doubled to 48, including a few newcomers to the tournament. The diversity was refreshing, giving many fans the chance to cheer on their countrymen. African and Asian teams were more represented, but the usual racial demographics of European teams had shifted, with some Black and brown players born in their team’s country, even though their parents had immigrated years earlier. I had heard rumblings on social media about fans’ racial discrimination against Black players while they played for their country’s club teams, but I didn’t expect as much on the world stage. However, white nationalism reared its ugly head again.
In 1994, there was no social media, so any ill feelings about players’ play were limited to print media or sports news coverage. Nevertheless, this year’s coverage went viral on social media, and many overzealous fans, under the guise of anonymity, called for the expulsion of Black and brown players because they were not indigenous to the European countries. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sanctioning body of the World Cup, documented more than 89k abusive posts during the group-stage matches. As the European teams started to drop out, much of the blame was immediately placed on the “foreigners” for the team’s shortcomings, even though those players were born and raised in those countries. Nationalist movements in France, Germany, Italy, etc., have exploited anti-immigration sentiment for decades. Now you must ask yourself, where is this revived bigotry coming from? You need look no further than the political rhetoric that has recently been reignited in the United States of America.
White nationalism, which had been somewhat dormant, reared its ugly head on the national stage in 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia, when white nationalists chanted, “Jews will not replace us.” In response to his view of counter-protesters, President Trump claimed there were “good people on both sides.” This response may have normalized this behavior and opened the door for similar conversations around the world, but many scholars argue that globalization, migration, and economic instability are more likely the causes. Many predominantly white former colonizer countries began to experience an influx of minorities. As borders became porous, the views of indigenous Europeans resented Black and brown people flooding their communities and, according to them, not assimilating as they wanted or required.
Soccer is supposed to bring everyone together to enjoy the game, but times have changed, and younger generations are unwilling to suffer for what their ancestors did long ago. This position is no different from what Americans have been saying for years: “My family didn’t own slaves.”
Well, it’s not that easy. The devastation former colonizers have caused around the world will never be forgotten. The fact that time has passed and the wrongdoers are dead doesn’t relieve the nation of responsibility. A debt is owed to the formerly colonized countries, and until it’s paid with interest, the doors should remain open. That debt could take the form of agreed-upon monetary payments to the affected countries, cancellation of any debt owed, or other concessions. Until then, the colonizer’s citizens will just have to deal with immigrants, much as immigrants from all colonized countries had to contend with the colonizer, who raped, pillaged, destabilized, and destroyed their civilization. Malcolm X called it “Chickens coming home to roost.” In layman’s terms, they are paying for what they did.
I understand how some white people feel about this contentious issue, but facts are facts. The damage has been done, and if they want their countries back, they should pay up. More than likely, those unwanted immigrants can return home to a more prosperous life. Just remember, soccer on the international stage has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to the exceptional physical abilities of Black and brown players, so you might want to slow your roll. It’s easy to sit back and admire how well off your country is because of your history, but history has been documented, and the evidence of catastrophes is in plain sight.
Lastly, the World Cup final is between the former colonizer, Spain, and probably the most despised country in South America, Argentina. I have no stake in this final because I remain a fan of the Italian National team, which, unfortunately, hasn’t made the World Cup since 2006. Based on the limited research I’ve done on Argentina’s role in denying the existence of the Afro-Argentine population, I will be supporting Spain, the colonizer team with two identifiable Black players.
Update: Spain won, and Messi cried like a baby. That is the fact.
Comments
Post a Comment