Donald Trump sets "his" World Cup on fire 100 days before the start of the competition

BarcelonaWith 100 days to go before the opening match between Mexico and South Africa of this summer's World Cup, nervousness is growing within the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). Donald Trump, who was supposed to be the guarantor of the trophy's success, is now jeopardizing the tournament's smooth running. Ironically, on the day of the World Cup group stage draw, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, The FIFA annual peace prize was invented to offer it to a Trump who was still angry about not having won the Nobel Peace Prize. That day, Infantino praised Trump for "working for stability and world peace." Since then, Trump has ordered military actions and bombings in Venezuela, Iran, and Nigeria. And he has hinted at possible additional operations in Greenland, Mexico, Colombia, or Cuba. Trump even invited Infantino to his Peace Board last February. But instead of peace, there is more war. And the president who most enjoys appearing in photos at major sporting events, as he did at the last Club World Cup, is now jeopardizing the biggest football event of the year.

The United States, one of the three host countries of the tournament, along with Canada and Mexico, has bombed Iran, a country that is theoretically supposed to play in the World Cup. Never before has the World Cup been played in a context where the organizers are militarily attacking one of the qualified teams, putting FIFA in a difficult position. Despite the good relationship between Infantino and Trump, they clash on this point: the US president has stated, "I don't care if they don't play in the World Cup, they're a defeated country." Infantino, on the other hand, is defending the team's participation. melleIran, as it is known, is mentioned in the quote.

Logically, it seems difficult to imagine the Iranian team traveling to the United States as if nothing had happened in a few months. In the history of the World Cup, some teams that qualified for the final stage have refused to play in the past, such as India for economic reasons in 1950 or Uruguay in 1934 and 1938, as a protest because FIFA favored European teams over South American ones. But a political boycott has never been seen in a final stage. Such boycotts have occurred in the qualifying stage; the most notable was that of the USSR in 1973, when they refused to play the second leg of their match. play-off against Chile as a protest against Pinochet's coup against the legitimate government of Salvador Allende.

It is now widely assumed that Iran will likely withdraw from the final stage, as permitted by the regulations in exchange for paying a fine, although FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom states that his objective "is to have a safe World Cup with everyone participating." But FIFA already has an alternative prepared: if the Iranians do not go, their place will be taken by Iraq or the United Arab Emirates. The Iraqis are scheduled to play one this March. play-off where they will fight to be, and based on sporting merit, it will be their turn.

Visa problems

The Iranian team had already boycotted the World Cup draw last December without sending delegates. They complained about the visa restrictions the United States was imposing on its citizens and fans. Months ago, Donald Trump imposed a travel ban on Iranian citizens last June, but with exceptions for "any athlete or member of a sports team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate family members, traveling for the World Cup, the Olympic Games, or any other event." The ban, citing an effort to manage security threats, affects citizens of 12 countries, four of which have qualified teams: Iran, Ivory Coast, Haiti, and Senegal. The Washington government also announced this January a visa freeze for up to 75 countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Guatemala, Jamaica, and Uzbekistan, all of which have qualified teams. Fans who want to attend the World Cup must be registered for FIFA Pass, a priority visa appointment system for those who have purchased tickets. However, having a ticket does not guarantee a visa.

Demonstrations and the LGBTI+ issue

Iran was scheduled to play in Group G alongside Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt, and was set to debut on June 15 against New Zealand in Inglewood (Los Angeles), an area of ​​California with one of the largest Iranian communities abroad, almost all descendants of people who escaped the Ayatollah regime. This community had already planned anti-regime demonstrations for the match and intended to fill the stadium with flags and symbols opposing the Tehran government. At the last World Cup in 2022, Iran's matches were played against a backdrop of massive anti-government protests in Iran. As the women's team has done recently, the men's team players refused to sing the national anthem in protest against the government's repression. During their second match against Wales, there were even clashes between fans with opposing views on the Iranian government, and the television broadcast attempted to censor opposition flags in the stands, as well as images of unveiled Iranian women cheering for their team. That World Cup featured a very tense Iran-USA match, similar to their 1998 encounter in France.

This summer, the Iranians were also scheduled to play against Egypt in Seattle in a match already politicized for other reasons, as various LGBTQ+ rights organizations had organized a day of action to advocate for their rights in Seattle that very day. And the schedule dictated that the teams playing the match were from two countries, Egypt and Iran, where LGBTQ+ rights are not respected.

ICE and the lack of money

The United States will host 78 of the 104 matches of the World Cup, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The tournament is also overshadowed by protests and debates sparked by deportations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which resulted in the deaths of two people in Minnesota. This week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Democrats of jeopardizing World Cup security by continuing to obstruct the government, withholding $625 million from the World Cup fund because ICE agents will be involved. "This harms the men and women who work for security. Our ability to ensure a safe and successful World Cup is also hampered," Noem said. "Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be a key part of the World Cup security system," stated Todd Lyons, acting director of ICE, when asked if they would be operating near the stadiums.

Security in Mexico

The World Cup also comes at the worst possible time in relations between the three host cities that years ago won the right to organize the World Cup with the slogan United 2026 (United 2026). And yet, nothing is united. Canada denounces Trump's policies, while he posts AI-generated maps on social media toying with the idea of ​​conquering Canada and criticizing Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Mexico, too, is experiencing problems, in this case security issues due to the recent violence following a military operation in which the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was killed. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias MenchoMore than 60 people lost their lives in incidents that blocked airports and highways, and affected cities slated to host the World Cup, such as Guadalajara. Sheinbaum claims that "there is no risk" to attendees thanks to a comprehensive plan that includes modernized video surveillance, real-time monitoring, joint operations, and anti-drone technology to protect stadiums and areas with high concentrations of fans. One hundred days before the World Cup, which was supposed to unite three neighboring states and the world at large around a ball, there is more talk of war, security, and visa problems than of Lamine Yamal or Messi. There is more talk about the man who started a war after winning a FIFA peace prize.

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