The Fascist World Cup

The 1934 FIFA World Cup was massively manipulated by Benito Mussolini (Source: here) 

The 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States should not go ahead. Instead, the competition should be taken away from the United States and assigned to other hosts. This is the only safe and morally sound way to proceed, given the actions of the US government at home and abroad over the past twelve months.

Since Trump took office in January 2025, his administration has flagrantly breached international law, threatened to invade friendly allies, and removed the president of a neighbouring country.

Trump's ICE snatch squads carry out violent purges against non-US citizens on a daily basis and increasingly also target Americans. More than 30 people died in ICE custody in 2025 and ICE has killed at least 5 people in the streets, including Renée Nicole Macklin Good on 7 January 2026 and Alex Jeffrey Pretti on 24 January 2026.

The number of people held in ICE detention on any given day has risen by more than 75% in a year, while the number of people detained without criminal record has increased by a whopping 2,450%. Arrests have particularly skyrocketed in Democrat-controlled cities, which happen to make up 10 of the 11 US host cities for the World Cup.  

FIFA should not lend its name to a competition in such a country.

Football fans visiting the United States from overseas cannot count themselves safe.

Football fans should not have to contend with ICE death squads roaming the streets.

Footballs fans should not have to run the risk of ending up in a Texas detention centre or a torture camp in El Salvador, just because they want to attend a football game.

Under current arrangements, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is due to be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada over five weeks between June 11 and July 19, 2026. The games are supposed to be played in eleven US cities, three Mexican cities, and two cities in Canada.

Unfortunately, relations between the United States and Canada & Mexico are extremely tense, so there is no way to ensure that, say, an erratic decision by the unpredictable Trump Administration triggers a border closure at short notice.

Besides, it will be nightmarish for football fans to cross the US border under Trump's draconian border security measures, which include intrusive social media checks.

There are currently four qualified nations, whose entire citizenry are subject to full or partial travel bans to the United States for the tournament, including Iran, Haiti, Ivory Coast, and recently crowded African champions Senegal. There is no sound rationale for these bans, which appear to be motivated solely by Trump's personal prejudices. Why should football fans from these countries abide by such madness?

The World Cup is meant to be a celebration of sport for all the peoples of the world. However, such a celebration is not possible in Trump's America. While changing venue at this late stage will be costly, it can and should be done. The United States has also been chosen to host the 2028 Olympic Games; it would be wise to now start to look for an alternate venue for this competition too.

In 1934, Fascist Italy hosted the FIFA World Cup. The event was heavily manipulated to promote Far-Right ideology with intense use of propaganda, biased refereeing, and sportswashing, meaning the event was used to distract attention away from unethical conduct, human rights abuses, and corruption. In 1936, Adolf Hitler hosted the notorious 'Nazi Games' in Berlin, which were even more manipulated.

If the 2026 FIFA World Cup goes ahead, there is a great risk that the competition will be marred by similar problems and forever be remembered as the Fascist World Cup.

In 1936, Barcelona offered to host a "People's Olympics" as an alternative to the Nazi Games in Berlin. The Barcelona games never went ahead due to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War - at the hands of fascists. However, many athletes stayed on and joined the international brigades in the fight against Franco's fascists.  

This is the spirit we need now. Especially from FIFA. As the United States turns its back on democracy, rule of law, and human rights, FIFA should not allow its reputation to be tarnished by association. Still, if FIFA decides to go ahead with the Fascist World Cup anyway then it is beholden upon us, the fans of football, to do our bit by boycotting the competition, not least for our own safety.

The End