What Trump’s policies & ICE are doing to teams & fans carry a larger, darker message
This is the first World Cup to be hosted by three countries, with a “United As One” billing. It’s also the first where a host nation’s at war with a participating country. Far from transcending this political reality, US has treated Iran’s team rottenly. Neither has FIFA stepped in to save footballers from arbit humiliations, nor are Iranians the only ones being meanly shoved around in Trump’s America. In a decision that’s upset a whole continent, it denied entry to Somalia’s Omar Artan, despite his diplomatic passport, valid visa, and status as Africa’s top referee in 2025. Only a vague explanation was offered: “Bad actors” aren’t being admitted. These days, that label best fits the host nation itself.
Fans have also had visa troubles, even after jumping through crazy hoops. Scotts are among those who’ve had their travel permits cancelled, after spending thousands on hotels and tickets. Btw, to avert such a fate, many in the Tartan Army have been self-policing their social media posts for months, steering clear not merely of political opinions but of mentioning America at all. All this is on top of ICE ominously there everywhere.
The World Cup’s entire brand rests on universality – the idea that football is the one language that cuts across race, religion, nationality. What US’s doing to that ideal is damaging enough. What FIFA is failing to do may be worse. It’s one thing to kick out Russia for invading Ukraine, while staying mum on US attacking Iran. But complete passivity at participants and fans being subjected to a distinctly unwelcoming host, strikes at the very idea of what the World Cup claims to be. Ultimately, the blow’s to the perception that even the powerful submit to common rules. Through football, we are also, tragically, seeing a live broadcast of the crisis of the rules-based international order.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
