sports
January 27, 2026
Removing US as World Cup host would be eminently sad – and entirely justified
A country where safety is under threat from federal violence on the streets is not fit to stage soccer’s showpiece event
TL;DR
- The US is a co-host for the 2026 World Cup, a tournament it has desired for over 15 years.
- Soccer's growth in the US has been linked to societal and cultural conversations, and the World Cup was seen as a way to showcase this progress.
- Concerns about the World Cup hosting include exorbitant ticket prices, onerous demands on cities, and FIFA's support of a corrupt administration.
- Recent federal violence, specifically killings by federal agents in Minneapolis, has eroded confidence in the US as a safe host.
- The article highlights deaths in ICE custody and immigration officers shooting at people, suggesting a pattern of disregard for human life.
- The targeting of Democratic-leaning metro areas by immigration crackdowns is noted, as most US World Cup host cities are in such areas.
- FIFA's message of peace and unity is questioned in the context of an administration perceived as divisive and conflict-prone.
- The US is described as a country that has captured a foreign leader and threatened allies, raising questions about its readiness to host foreign visitors.
- Discussions of boycotts are mentioned, but seen as difficult to imagine due to financial implications and FIFA's history of hosting in problematic countries.
- Concacaf president Victor Montagliani stated that football is bigger than world leaders and will survive their regimes.
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