There’s No World Cup in 2026, Just a MAGA Trophy

Infantino has created a highly profitable Trump-rules tournament that bears little resemblance to the spirit of the World Cup as we knew it

Tony Karon

10 May 2026

“Imagine that the BBC chose to ignore the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, and to instead devote an hour of programming to the moral—and physical—hazards of staging a part of that tournament in the US,” Daniel Levy and I wrote in the Nation four years ago, drawing attention to Western media’s hypocritical treatment of Qatar 2022.

“How safe can visiting fans really feel, the presenter might ask, in a country where the authorities are unable or unwilling to prevent them from being shot dead on any day of the week in a mall, in a gay nightclub, in a church, synagogue, mosque, or anywhere else? And how safe are visiting Black fans (those lucky enough to get visas) in a country with shocking levels of racist police violence?

“How could visitors really feel comfortable enjoying a sports festival in a country where, on any given day, there 2 million people are behind bars, more than half a million are homeless, and 41 million face hunger—in the world’s richest country, which spends more on arming its military than the next nine countries combined (and which has shown an unfortunate willingness to unleash that military abroad to disastrous effect and with scant regard for international law)?

A country where one in six women has been raped or sexually assaulted, but where legal protection of women’s bodily autonomy is being systematically eroded…

Can fans from many of those countries can get visas to enter the U.S. Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast, and Senegal may have qualified for the tournament, but their fans are prohibited by a visa ban. Fans from a number of other qualifying nations will be required to post a $15,000 bond – this may even apply to players from these countries. Extra screening (meaning a probable no) will be applied to fans of Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Morocco, Uruguay, Uzbekistan. And, of course, further arbitrary denials of entry are widely expected at points of entry.

That’s before we even get to the ideological screening. Visa applicants are required to submit five years’ of their social-media output for scrutiny. Recent State Department guidance tells officers to look out for those who “bear hostile attitudes toward our citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles.” And then there’s “anti-Semitism”, which the U.S. government defines as including challenging the racist, genocidal state of Israel. So it sounds like the intent is to deny entry to anyone who, like most of humanity, demands Palestinian freedom and an end to Israel’s genocide, or opposes the illegal and unprovoked U.S. war on Iran.

What about Infantino’s unfathomable decision to invent a “FIFA Peace Prize” and award it to Trump – a pally relationship clearly in violation of FIFA’s ethics that require political neutrality, particular when it comes to sitting leaders.

“The FIFA Peace Prize is presented annually on behalf of the billions of football-loving people from around the world to a distinguished individual who exemplifies an unwavering commitment to advancing peace and unity throughout the world, through their notable leadership and action.”

FIFA is projecting that it will earn some $11 billion from this year’s tournament.

FIFA and Donald Trump make a great pair as they're both as bent as each other.

The ICE agents are going to be busy around the venues in the

States, would advise any one of colour to just go to Canada

and Mexico, if they can afford it. have they sold the viewing

rights to China and India yet , about half the Worlds population.

I did read Thailand cannot afford it too, another fine mess he has

gotten us into

regards worgeordie

You didn't mention the astronomical ticket prices and bloated transportation costs. Numpty maga types will say Americans don't care for the biggest game in the world, which will be their reasoning of the probable dull atmosphere and empty seats. Not my favourite sport either, but it is more about enjoyment and the world coming together and getting away from politics. Trump has completely politicised it and made it all about him. Who woulda thunk it! Total shambles.

14 hours ago, worgeordie said:

The ICE agents are going to be busy around the venues in the

States, would advise any one of colour to just go to Canada

and Mexico, if they can afford it. have they sold the viewing

rights to China and India yet , about half the Worlds population.

I did read Thailand cannot afford it too, another fine mess he has

gotten us into

regards worgeordie

Thailand usually says they can’t afford it then come through right before it starts.

I will watch a few games if i have the opportunity but any hint of idiots chanting “ USA, USA, USA “ irrespective of who is playing and I will be switching off.

Rather foolish would I be, if I plainly chose to visit America...not to mention the racket and extorsion of the FIFA ticket prices for the world cup in America. I definately do not wish to contribute to the multimillion monthly salaries of the team players.

Im going to enjoy the matches myself. My favs are the Three Lions and Brazil.

Who cares. Football/soccer is now and has been for a very long time a bunch of disgustingly highly paid posers with very expensive cars and hair cuts falling down a lot. Having said this at least this is actually a World Cup as opposed to the World Series Baseball in the US which doesn't involve the world.

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Who cares. Football/soccer is now and has been for a very long time a bunch of disgustingly highly paid posers with very expensive cars and hair cuts falling down a lot. Having said this at least this is actually a World Cup as opposed to the World Series Baseball in the US which doesn't involve the world.

Does that Miss Universe isnt real?

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

On 6/3/2026 at 7:08 PM, worgeordie said:

would advise any one of colour to just go to Canada

and Mexico

Do you mean anyone of colour that's in the US illegally or just anyone of colour?

Thank goodness I don't give a rip about professional sports. Bread and Circuses. Keeps the commoners lulled and dulled.

Even better. FIFA knows that the US won't grant Iranians visas. So the Iranian team will be forced to forfeit their matches.

FIFA isn't political? Oh, please don't be naive. You're looking at the future of sports. Individuals and teams disqualified or forced to forfeit because rival countries refuse to grant visas to block participation in order to fabricate loses.

Again - Global sports is in a death spiral. Sportsmanship dies in the crucible of Geo-politics.

Edited June 4Jun 4 by connda

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Even better. FIFA knows that the US won't grant Iranians visas. So the Iranian team will be forced to forfeit their matches.

The Iranian football team have got visa to play football in the USA , no matches will have to be forfeited

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

Do you mean anyone of colour that's in the US illegally or just anyone of colour?

I don't think ICE are fussy , they will take you away until you can prove your

legal ,

regards worgeordie

Actually, I believe the Iranian team is playing in México.

15 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Actually, I believe the Iranian team is playing in México.

Until they make the finals. More likely them than the USA

Good points. America is #1. In mass murders. By a long shot. And now they've added to that list the mistreatment of foreign visitors and as a result tourism is dropping like a brick. Putting the US on the World Cup list was just not smart. $150 for a bus out to the stadium, $1,000 for a mediocre hotel room, $5,000 for a crappy ticket, I don't think so.

Just say no to piracy, ridiculous inflation, and an ungrateful nation towards tourists willing to spend crazy amounts of money to visit.

Edited June 4Jun 4 by spidermike007

Swiss soccer player rejection

Breel Embolo, a Swiss soccer star, faced a significant travel issue just days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application was placed under review, preventing him from traveling to the United States with his team. Embolo's ESTA had been approved the morning before his flight,

5 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Who cares. Football/soccer is now and has been for a very long time a bunch of disgustingly highly paid posers with very expensive cars and hair cuts falling down a lot. Having said this at least this is actually a World Cup as opposed to the World Series Baseball in the US which doesn't involve the world.

Disappointingly the World Series was named after “The New York World” newspaper who sponsored the series. For once not an example of American insularity.

We can't watch the games here live anyway, so why bother. Another non event.

so thailand didn't secure the rights?

FIFA is too greedy or what?

damn FIFA!

On 6/4/2026 at 9:56 AM, Andrew Dwyer said:

Thailand usually says they can’t afford it then come through right before it starts.

In case that doesn't happen this time, can't we just use a VPN and tune in to BBC or broadcasters in another country?

America rises to the occasion !

The 1996 Atlanta summer Olympics was

considered the best organized ever at the

time .

Also the ONLY one that ever made a profit !

Here's hoping ....

3 hours ago, henryford1958 said:

We can't watch the games here live anyway, so why bother. Another non event.

Maybe you can do a work around using a VPN. There's many paid versons but I've used 2 different free ones and they're ok. Hola VPN or Urban VPN.

44 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

In case that doesn't happen this time, can't we just use a VPN and tune in to BBC or broadcasters in another country?

I have used a VPN in the past but suffered a lot of buffering.

If Thailand do announce at the last minute that they will show matches then I will simply change the language on my tv to get English commentary ( hope it isn’t American commentators as they still don’t appear to understand the game ! ).

Us version of the 1936 Olympics...

1 hour ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

then I will simply change the language on my tv to get English commentary

how do you do that?

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

how do you do that?

Audio button will change from local ( Thai ) to original language, works for movies and series etc, a 10 year old Samsung tv, not even a Smart tv, a great feature that possibly many miss.