What began as discontent over ticket prices and potential visa issues has turned into a full-force boycott of this year’s FIFA World Cup. Approximately 16,000 people have cancelled their tickets already, and that number is continuing to grow. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will host 48 teams and is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19.
Many fans were already disappointed with FIFA’s decision to award Trump with its Peace Prize last month. This award is meant to be awarded to “individuals who, through their unwavering commitment and their special actions, have helped to unite people all over the world in peace and consequently deserve a special and unique recognition”. Outrage over giving Trump the award grew even stronger after the US’s actions in Venezuela. FIFA, however, has announced that they have no plans to change its decision.
The world is watching America with bated breath as ICE agents patrol US cities, break into people’s homes, and drag people off the streets without cause. The murder of Renee Good last week was the final nail in the coffin for many international soccer fans.
In fact, Mahamad Safa, a United Nations Executive Director, publicly announced on social media, “I cancelled my World Cup tickets. The ICE may decide that I am a gang member, and I’ll be locked in prison for a year with no charges, no hearing, no trial, no right to consult a lawyer, no phone call. The US is not safe to visit.” He went on to say, “A police badge is not a license to murder… for the record: cops aren’t supposed to kill guilty people either.”
Many other fans have also brought up fears over whether they would be able to return home safely if they attended the games. A Supreme Court decision from last September gave ICE agents permission to use factors such as “race, language, location, and occupation” as legal reasoning to make stops. This dangerous racial profiling has caused many to decide that attending the FIFA World Cup isn’t worth the risk.
This may be just the beginning of international boycotts of US-hosted sporting events. Will we also see fans refuse to attend the 2028 Summer Olympics being held in Los Angeles, California?
