BIn 1934, it became abundantly clear what Benito Mussolini was up to. The Italian dictator had already consolidated power, colonized Libya and annexed the city of Rijeka. Nevertheless, he managed to hold the second world championship in history. driving it with a heavy hand and even replaced the Jules Rimet trophy with a much larger one. Hosting and winning the World Cup did not satisfy his expansionist appetites. By the end of the decade, Mussolini would conquer Ethiopia, annex Albania, and support Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War.
In 1978, Argentina also found that the military junta of General Jorge Rafael Videla, which had come to power two years earlier, maintained power through systematic detentions, torture and killings. However, the protests of other countries were ignored, and the World Cup started.
“Finally the world can see the true face of Argentina,” he said. FIFA President João Havelange at the opening ceremony, recently awarded the Videla Medal.
Argentina spared no expense in creating its World Cupalthough the total cost was a state secret. But the right-wing government has also failed to slow the rate of disappearance of political dissidents and opponents. Germany captain Berti Vogts said that “Argentina is a country where order reigns. I have not seen a single political prisoner,” although, so it doesn’t matter.
When Vladimir Putin presided over the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Cup, four years had passed since his forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine and he had supported pro-Russian rebels in the Donbass region. Fifa didn't mind.
The problematic nature of these events may have been obvious at the time, but it took some time to be fully recognised; so that there are no mistakes in the actions and intentions of the host government. Years from now, when we look back at the geopolitical context of the 2026 World Cup, which was shared by Canada and Mexico but captured by the United States, we will likely put it in the same category as the rest. Let's hope we have the full clarity and this World Cup will take its place among the most disgraceful incarnations of the quadrennial tournament.
This conclusion was formulated last week's violent and bloody kidnapping of the current president of Venezuela and his wifein front of US President Donald Trump declared that the socialist state was now effectively American-administered territory..
This was, of course, after Trump or his minions softened their support for Ukraine in the ongoing war with Russia; literally threw boats out of the water on simple suspicion of drug trafficking; threatened to invade Mexico And Canada app (their co-hosts of the World Cup!), Greenland And Panama Canal; and started a trade war with, well, basically everything, destroying the world economy.
We do not yet know how far this administration has gone, which promised isolationism, but instead created geopolitical chaoswill pursue a foreign policy that lacks any coherence other than the underlying assumption that it can do whatever it wants. But it is clear that this may just be the beginning.
However, the World Cup will continue. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was unmoved. his support for Trump. Unlike Havelange and Videla, medals and fake awards going in a different direction.
It's been a while since we've had a reasonable disagreement at the World Cup. The 2010 and 2014 editions in South Africa and Brazil, respectively, were widely criticized locally due to the strain they placed on countries with much more pressing needs. Yet these legitimate complaints seem quaint compared to the 2022 tournament in Qatar, which was obtained through well-documented corruption and leading directly to many deaths and human rights violations. The 2030 tournament will inevitably become infamous due to the fact that it will be stretched over three continentswhich significantly increases the environmental impact, belying any claims made by FIFA about caring for the climate. And then there is the 2034 World Cup, which has already been handed over to the de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
The World Cup, dominated by the United States, fits perfectly into this series. This nation is not currently in a position to lecture anyone on human rights—and never has been. The Qataris and Saudis are no longer the underdogs in the sport. This is exactly what the World Cup is now: a convenient means to achieve the goals of dangerously self-interested people.
Perhaps some kind of boycott movement by fans of FIFA events will gain traction, although the slow creep of acceptance to where we are suggests otherwise. It was also not possible to reach Qatar, despite the great noise. It's doubtful that such a boycott would do much good, embarrassing the men and the odd woman who killed the parts of themselves that once felt shame anyway.
Football has completely followed the path of the Olympic Games and Formula 1, which long ago came to terms with the dirty baggage that was attached to the highest bidder for their competitions.
And when the story of how the World Cup went completely and utterly astray is told, they will point to the 2026 edition, which was held in Canada and Mexico and, problematically, embarrassingly and hopelessly, in the United States.
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Leander Charlekens' book about the US men's national soccer team, The Long Game, will be published May 12. pre-order here. He teaches at Marist University.
