In the build-up to Friday’s World Cup draw here, one feeling pervades that has repeated on me often over the last two years: it’s easy to forget that there are two other countries hosting this tournament.
Canada and Mexico are only hosting 26 matches in 21 days, after all. Barely even worth thinking about.
Still, at least we will learn which countries will play who and (after some more Fifa deliberation) where and when. Sometimes in all this politicking fog it’s easy to forget that it’s football at all. Sport as an afterthought to geopolitical self-gratification – nice catchphrase, but probably too long for a scarf.
Three days before the draw in Washington, President Trump said in this city that Somalia “stinks and we don’t want them in our country”, so it’s probably worth crossing them off the welcome spreadsheet.
Haiti and Iran have both qualified for this tournament and the two countries remain on Trump’s banned list. “Welcome to all (terms and conditions may apply).”
Increasingly, what you are told and what you hear from both sides of this World Cup hype parade are two disparate concepts. One suspects Infantino would prefer Trump to turn down the most explicit of the unapologetic bigotry, but we’re in too deep now.
The World Cup has been dogged by the controversies of host power and their strongarm leaders before, of course. In Russia, where Vladimir Putin promoted a non-isolationist, non-aggressive image of a country that subsequently invaded its neighbour.
It absolutely pisses me off that he is president for the 250th, World Cup, *and* Olympics. Dammit, really?
specqq on
Wrong tense.
ianrl337 on
It’s FIFA. It’s already completely corrupt.
kpeterson159 on
So basically, if you are not a white male you are fucked.
shadowdra126 on
FIFA was already ruining it
Rare-Ad-9088 on
Whatever cant afford to go anyways.
AcanthisittaNo6653 on
He’s going to steal the trophy, again.
Sleepwokesleepwoke on
Corrupt corporations
RealGianath on
At this rate, they’ll be extremely lucky if half the players aren’t arrested by ICE immediately when their planes land, or Hegseth doesn’t launch missile strikes at “narco-terrorists” he claims are in the audience.
I sure wouldn’t come to America if I were a foreigner right now.
FIlm2024 on
Canada and Mexico are also hosting? Trump will always monopolize the attention and credit. However, if anything goes wrong, I’m sure we’ll suddenly hear it’s all Canada and Mexico’s fault.
hymie0 on
Do I remember correctly that, a few months ago, a Little League World Series team from somewhere in South America was banned from entering, and they were replaced by the second-place team?
MJcorrieviewer on
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. A lot of international football fans will be coming from nations that either Trump doesn’t like or they’re just the wrong colour or religion. The “type” of people currently being targeted at US borders.
I sure wouldn’t spend hundreds (thousands?) on tickets, plane fares and hotels when there’s a chance I could be denied entry or even just detained for hours – even if you’re eventually admitted, that alone is enough to miss a connecting flight or lose your hotel booking or miss the game and ruin your vacation.
International visitors to North America would be much smarter to book games in Canada or Mexico if they want to see the World Cup.
thethrill_707 on
Literally everything the man touches turns to shit. Everything. Of course it will be terrible.
He doesn’t understand the game, know where the countries are that are playing, or how important international football (soccer, sorry) is to many people. The good thing is that Trump will have his choice of stadiums to visit so he can be booed and jeered. Come to America – see some great football AND yell at our idiot in charge.
10v1 on
Like Midas, except everything the man touches turns to shit.
MomsBored on
FIFA deserves all the chaos he is about to cause. They bend to billionaires not their brown and foreign fanbase. Not based in America.
detoro on
FIFA and Trump are a perfect-corrupt match.
A012A012 on
We should boycott and hold rallies at the event
ell0bo on
I dunno, the world cup is all about corruption, and if there’s someone that understand corruption, it’s Trump
AdTiny2166 on
First World Cup in my lifetime that I’ll boycott.
WardenEdgewise on
Nobody from outside the US should attend ANY World Cup game in the US. Do NOT travel to the US. It is not safe.
MrFrankyHanky on
It’s simple, boycott the upcoming World Cup.
Walterkovacs1985 on
The most corrupt sports thing in the world can be ruined?
ChocolateSeuss on
Title doesn’t need the last word
luv2ctheworld on
Might as well say he ruins everything. Still be an accurate statement.
hsiale on
Already ruined by the final match not happening at the Estadio Azteca, one of the very few super important soccer places outside of Europe.
kevnmartin on
Of course he is. He ruins everything else.
waffle299 on
Then steal the trophy
Strange-Effort1305 on
Never trust America to do anything right.
Rynowash on
Oh, I fucking guarantee it.
1000dreams_within_me on
I’m not watching this year. I already can’t stomach anything FIFA related and now add Trump to this – no thanks
TCristatus on
We all thought the Qataris making Messi wear a black nightdress while lifting the trophy was bad. Someone (hopefully Harry Kane) is going to be standing there in a red Maga hat or a shirt that says “buy Trump coins”
Jasoncatt on
Inverse Midas. Everything gold he turns to shit.
djandyglos on
Hopefully Washington gets a cold winter this year 🤞
theblisters on
I’m hoping he won’t be around long enough to be involved
okiedokie2468 on
No fear! Dealing with Trump is child’s play for FIFA! When it comes to corruption FIFA rules!
nathism on
FIFA is also ruining their own World Cup with their push to implement dynamic pricing
DudestPriest90210 on
Whats the vegas line on this?
wasntahomer on
Wouldn’t pass up the oppurtunity to look like a bafoon on the world stage!
Fantasy_Puck on
Imagine if Venezuela wins
slowdowndaddy on
This title is too long. You need to remove the last word
Oceanbreeze871 on
Honestly, this is well deserved and necessary. America needs to be embarrassed on the world stage by his own hand
AaronfromKY on
King Mierda will strike again, turning something people loved into shit.
44 Comments
Well, he’s ruined everything else so why not?
In the build-up to Friday’s World Cup draw here, one feeling pervades that has repeated on me often over the last two years: it’s easy to forget that there are two other countries hosting this tournament.
Canada and Mexico are only hosting 26 matches in 21 days, after all. Barely even worth thinking about.
This is the USA’s parade and this is [Donald Trump’s show](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/donald-trump-sportswashing-experts-3823226?ico=in-line_link) because football has allowed it to be so. The draw will take place 140 miles from the nearest host city and 1.01 miles from the White House. That symbolism punches you square in the jaw.
Still, at least we will learn which countries will play who and (after some more Fifa deliberation) where and when. Sometimes in all this politicking fog it’s easy to forget that it’s football at all. Sport as an afterthought to geopolitical self-gratification – nice catchphrase, but probably too long for a scarf.
This should trouble us all. In August, Fifa president [Gianni Infantino](https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/ignore-dictators-club-world-cup-3734090?ico=in-line_link) insisted that next summer will be a glorious melting pot of different peoples treated well, speaking out against “misconception” and reinforcing that “everyone will be welcome”.
Three days before the draw in Washington, President Trump said in this city that Somalia “stinks and we don’t want them in our country”, so it’s probably worth crossing them off the welcome spreadsheet.
Haiti and Iran have both qualified for this tournament and the two countries remain on Trump’s banned list. “Welcome to all (terms and conditions may apply).”
Increasingly, what you are told and what you hear from both sides of this World Cup hype parade are two disparate concepts. One suspects Infantino would prefer Trump to turn down the most explicit of the unapologetic bigotry, but we’re in too deep now.
The World Cup has been dogged by the controversies of host power and their strongarm leaders before, of course. In Russia, where Vladimir Putin promoted a non-isolationist, non-aggressive image of a country that subsequently invaded its neighbour.
[In Qatar](https://inews.co.uk/news/world-cup-fifa-boss-accuses-west-hypocrisy-feel-qatari-like-migrant-worker-gay-1982837?ico=in-line_link), where a state supercharged its attempt to diversify from oil and gas and distract from its questionable human rights record. In Argentina in 1978, where General Videla used the tournament as a high-end propaganda mission.
It absolutely pisses me off that he is president for the 250th, World Cup, *and* Olympics. Dammit, really?
Wrong tense.
It’s FIFA. It’s already completely corrupt.
So basically, if you are not a white male you are fucked.
FIFA was already ruining it
Whatever cant afford to go anyways.
He’s going to steal the trophy, again.
Corrupt corporations
At this rate, they’ll be extremely lucky if half the players aren’t arrested by ICE immediately when their planes land, or Hegseth doesn’t launch missile strikes at “narco-terrorists” he claims are in the audience.
I sure wouldn’t come to America if I were a foreigner right now.
Canada and Mexico are also hosting? Trump will always monopolize the attention and credit. However, if anything goes wrong, I’m sure we’ll suddenly hear it’s all Canada and Mexico’s fault.
Do I remember correctly that, a few months ago, a Little League World Series team from somewhere in South America was banned from entering, and they were replaced by the second-place team?
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. A lot of international football fans will be coming from nations that either Trump doesn’t like or they’re just the wrong colour or religion. The “type” of people currently being targeted at US borders.
I sure wouldn’t spend hundreds (thousands?) on tickets, plane fares and hotels when there’s a chance I could be denied entry or even just detained for hours – even if you’re eventually admitted, that alone is enough to miss a connecting flight or lose your hotel booking or miss the game and ruin your vacation.
International visitors to North America would be much smarter to book games in Canada or Mexico if they want to see the World Cup.
Literally everything the man touches turns to shit. Everything. Of course it will be terrible.
He doesn’t understand the game, know where the countries are that are playing, or how important international football (soccer, sorry) is to many people. The good thing is that Trump will have his choice of stadiums to visit so he can be booed and jeered. Come to America – see some great football AND yell at our idiot in charge.
Like Midas, except everything the man touches turns to shit.
FIFA deserves all the chaos he is about to cause. They bend to billionaires not their brown and foreign fanbase. Not based in America.
FIFA and Trump are a perfect-corrupt match.
We should boycott and hold rallies at the event
I dunno, the world cup is all about corruption, and if there’s someone that understand corruption, it’s Trump
First World Cup in my lifetime that I’ll boycott.
Nobody from outside the US should attend ANY World Cup game in the US. Do NOT travel to the US. It is not safe.
It’s simple, boycott the upcoming World Cup.
The most corrupt sports thing in the world can be ruined?
Title doesn’t need the last word
Might as well say he ruins everything. Still be an accurate statement.
Already ruined by the final match not happening at the Estadio Azteca, one of the very few super important soccer places outside of Europe.
Of course he is. He ruins everything else.
Then steal the trophy
Never trust America to do anything right.
Oh, I fucking guarantee it.
I’m not watching this year. I already can’t stomach anything FIFA related and now add Trump to this – no thanks
We all thought the Qataris making Messi wear a black nightdress while lifting the trophy was bad. Someone (hopefully Harry Kane) is going to be standing there in a red Maga hat or a shirt that says “buy Trump coins”
Inverse Midas. Everything gold he turns to shit.
Hopefully Washington gets a cold winter this year 🤞
I’m hoping he won’t be around long enough to be involved
No fear! Dealing with Trump is child’s play for FIFA! When it comes to corruption FIFA rules!
FIFA is also ruining their own World Cup with their push to implement dynamic pricing
Whats the vegas line on this?
Wouldn’t pass up the oppurtunity to look like a bafoon on the world stage!
Imagine if Venezuela wins
This title is too long. You need to remove the last word
Honestly, this is well deserved and necessary. America needs to be embarrassed on the world stage by his own hand
King Mierda will strike again, turning something people loved into shit.