‘Cancel your tickets’: Calls grow to boycott US-hosted FIFA World Cup over Trump admin

https://www.rawstory.com/world-cup-2674872045/

745 points · 80 comments · view on lemmy.world

80 Comments

themeatbridge@lemmy.world · 69 pts · 235d (9 replies)

I dunno, seems like FIFA and Trump are two peas in a pod.

foodandart@lemmy.zip · 26 pts · 234d (1 reply)

Oh yeah. Corporate and international sports? Of course they are.

Boycott all professional sports.

Almacca@aussie.zone · 7 pts · 234d

Way ahead of you.

merc@sh.itjust.works · 14 pts · 234d (4 replies)

If FIFA weren't so incredibly corrupt, by now they'd at least be talking about moving some of the US matches to Mexico and Canada. They have to know that there's a good chance some of the athletes or coaches will be denied entry, or allowed in then thrown in a concentration camp.

This just happened with Ethiopian Runners, who were denied entry. Only 4 of the 18 were allowed in. Meanwhile Eritrea can't send anybody because Trump put a travel ban on their country.

There are plenty of other suitable stadia in Canada and especially Mexico that could accommodate the games, and those countries aren't going to be denying entry to any athletes or coaches.

Mirshe@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 234d (1 reply)

See, this would be my issue as a football fan. How do we know the games won't simply be rigged by "whoops we denied the visas to everyone we think we can't beat".

merc@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 234d

I mean, it's the USA, the list of teams that qualified for the world cup that they can definitely beat might be shorter.

swordgeek@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 234d (1 reply)

If FIFA weren’t so incredibly corrupt...

But as we both know, they are. Probably the most corrupt sporting organization on the planet.

merc@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 234d

There are probably boxing or MMA organizations that are more corrupt. But FIFA easily beats them in scale and the amount of money sloshing around.

Incidentally, for all the shitty things that the US has done, and all the contempt Americans tend to show towards football / soccer, the one thing you have to admire is that they were the ones to try to actually take on FIFA corruption a while back. They didn't have much long-term impact, but no other country has done anything, so it was still impressive.

YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today · 11 pts · 234d

It'll be packed with relatively cheap seats for rich Saudis.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 234d

if anyone is corrupt it would be the fifa president, and the IOA too.

Deathray5@lemmynsfw.com · 44 pts · 234d

Not even the top reason to boycott FIFA but whatever works

worhui@lemmy.world · 42 pts · 234d (2 replies)

There is no reason to come here. This will be the lamest, boring soccer fan experience that anyone ever had.

Being drunk is public is a crime and the US ICE will detain any foreigner guilty of a crime.

This will be a fully in-control and respectful viewing event with little drinking and no mischief.

The teams will stay in their hotels until it's time to fly home.

That or a whole crowd of folks is going to get gunned down.

Sturgist@lemmy.ca · 23 pts · 234d

Being drunk is public is a crime and the US ICE will detain any foreigner guilty of a crime.

skisnow@lemmy.ca · 19 pts · 234d

ICE is populated with the sort of people who think soccer is un-American and for girls. Most will consider the idea of fucking about with visitors of an international soccer tournament to be entirely consistent with the "Don't Come Here" message they want to send.

lvxferre@mander.xyz · 38 pts · 234d (5 replies)
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darvocet@infosec.pub · 10 pts · 234d (4 replies)

I will do my part from America and not watch. When is it?

Sturgist@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 234d

First match is 11th of June, the final is the 19th of July.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 233d (1 reply)

why do you need to know if you are not watching.

darvocet@infosec.pub · 1 pts · 233d

Just so I would know if I had accomplished the task or not. To be safe, I'll avoid Buffalo Wild Wings for 2026.

a_non_monotonic_function@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 234d

3 and 1/2 days ago.

chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world · 35 pts · 234d (3 replies)

Sadly, people value soccer more than the lives of other humans.

See: People going to Qatar.

Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 234d

Also FIFA prioritises money over ethics.

k0e3@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 234d

Or their own, even.

Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 234d

Oh, I do think they value their own lives more than soccer, which might have some impact in the number of visitors to the US purelly because of the constant news about how even Europeans are getting treated there.

Mind you, you are absolutelly right that most won't put the lives of others (or, more broadly, any kind of ethics, moral or principles) above soccer.

merc@sh.itjust.works · 27 pts · 234d (6 replies)

Just go to the matches in Canada and Mexico. They're suffering under Trump much more than the rest of the world.

boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 3 pts · 234d (3 replies)

Or ideally don't go to any matches. It's actually more ethical to pirate stream any FIFA matches lol

merc@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 234d (2 replies)

Maybe, but actually going to a world cup match in person with thousands of other people supporting your country is probably a pretty special experience that not many people get to do in their lifetimes. Watching it on TV is never going to feel like that, especially watching at home on a pirate stream. It's probably what I'll do. And a big part of the reason is that I don't want FIFA to get any money from me. But, I know I'm missing out on a unique experience.

bold_atlas@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 233d (1 reply)

Well yeah, the '34 Nuremberg rally must have been pretty memorable and impressive to see in person too.

But hardly anybody later in life was like "Hey kids, want to hear about this epic and awesome thing I went to before the war?"

merc@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 233d

I think a better comparison would be the 1936 Olympics. And plenty of people were really happy to talk about how they were at the Olympics and watched a black American man beating the Nazis on their own turf.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 0 pts · 233d (1 reply)

They’re suffering under Trump

If you mean a booming local tourism industry and new trade deals across the world suffering, ok. Long term Trump may be the best thing to happen to Canada and Mexico.

merc@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 233d

There's a recent article about trade:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-trade-oct-2025-9.7037913

Exports to the US are still 2/3 of all Canadian trade. Canada's exports around the world did increase significantly in percentage terms (up 15.6%). But, because 2/3 of all Canadian exports are to the US, the fact they were down 4.1% is a major issue.

As for booming tourism, I don't know where you're getting that statistic. International tourism overall is down 1.1% overall. Canadian residents are doing more tourism within Canada, but far fewer Americans are visiting, so overall things are down slightly.

In the long run Canada may be less dependent on the US, which is a good thing. But, it's hardly a boon for the economy for the previously low-friction relationship to now be high-friction.

bonenode@piefed.social · 23 pts · 234d
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djsoren19@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 21 pts · 234d (2 replies)

as bad as the US is, pretty sure Qatar is worse and nobody gave a shit then. Sports fans don't have morals.

mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de · 7 pts · 234d

Yeah the whole meme of "sportsball is for dummies" kinda bugs me as I have a few ridiculously intelligent friends who are huge sports fans, but there's no denying that the average smartness of sports fans does indeed seem lower. It's not because of something wrong with sports, it's just that they're intrinsically pretty easy to understand. The barrier to entry, intellectually, is lower. In a way, that's great, because it's something anyone can enjoy. But it doesn't bode well for the general fan base's ability to do things like critical thinking.

modus@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 234d

I was at the final game of Club World Cup last year when that moron was there. People were cheering him. Don't get me wrong, a significant number were booing him and giving him the finger, even on the big LED wall. But I feel like a large number just weren't politically-minded enough to feel anything other than "ermagerd! Its da Pressident!!!1" and cheer for him.

pedz@lemmy.ca · 21 pts · 234d (2 replies)

Sports fans will never boycott anything. They are loyal to their teams, not morals nor logic. Can't diverge from the groupthink. Gotta be a team player.

There's multiple psychology papers on this exact subject.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 234d

sports is basically political in nature, it make sense to have 1 side or the other.

Ibuthyr@feddit.org · 1 pts · 233d

Among football fans there's no real loyalty to a national team. They don't give a shit about that. People going to world cup matches are casuals. Hardcore fans will actually be the most likely ones to boycott the world cup.

ABetterTomorrow@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 234d (1 reply)

Don’t watch it either. Fuck their ad revenue

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 234d

Football fans are fucking nationalist idiots and simps for online betting, they will watch it.

slothrop@lemmy.ca · 16 pts · 234d (7 replies)

Pointless until the nations boycott.

ThePantser@sh.itjust.works · 29 pts · 234d (3 replies)

Seems like the players need to boycott. Why the fuck are they willing to come here? I understand "contracts" but they could just not play or play horribly. Many players boycotted the Olympics in Germany, the players of the WC should do the same.

Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 15 pts · 234d (2 replies)

Why the fuck are they willing to come here?

Because, contrary to public/fan perception, most top level footballers are not at all principled when there's large amounts of money and prestige on the line.

Plus the whole "team sport" thing has the downside of peer pressure from other players being a real factor.

baguette@piefed.social · 6 pts · 234d (1 reply)

I remember Virgil van Dijk defending going to Qatar saying something along the line of that there are only a few chances in his career to play at such a tournament. So he allowed himself to neglect all moral questions on selfish reasons.

Later when asked why he wouldn't wear the One World-band is that if he was awarded a yellow card he could risk a game and he couldn't let his team down and claimed that would've been selfish.

Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 234d

Yeah, I've long since learned to embrace hypocrisy when it comes to football fandom lol.

I can't stop myself from loving the club and how great most of the players are on the pitch, but apart from weaksauce excuses like this one, three of my favorite Liverpool players (including the one I had previously thought of as the most unselfish "it's all about the collective over personal wealth and glory" player, Firmino) went to fucking SAUDI ARABIA at a time in their careers where they were only BARELY past their prime and could still be a key player for almost any team in the world.

Add to that the fact that there's at least one Bolsonaro voter and at least one Orban voter in the team as well and I pretty much HAVE to compartmentalize to maintain my own sanity as a fan of the YNWA club for over 30 years 😮‍💨

atro_city@fedia.io · 20 pts · 234d

If lots of people cancel their tickets, post pictures of cancelled tickets or stickers and apparel saying "no fascist world cup", and social media is flooded with it, nations are much more likely to pull out. Stop being such a negative Nancy.

stylusmobilus@aussie.zone · 11 pts · 234d

People can only do what is in their power to do.

It’s a case of ‘if you don’t like what’s going on, don’t engage’. I’ve boycotted watching the last WC and I’ll boycott watching this too. Will it make a difference? Probably not, not while the majority whinge and fold, but I’m not whining that there was nothing I could do.

I have a lot of respect for people handing in their tickets, at best that’s a shitload of planning and organisation they’ve burned to do the right thing.

Sharkticon@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 234d

Its certainly not pointless. Every lost dollar every lost ratings point makes a difference.

Aljernon@lemmy.today · 14 pts · 234d

If I didn't live in the US, I sure wouldn't come here

spionspion@lemmy.ml · 14 pts · 234d (1 reply)

The fascist FIFA organization needs to be shunned and destroyed everywhere

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 234d

Sepp Blatter is the world's second biggest cunt,

fibojoly@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 234d (1 reply)

Strong 1936 Olympic games vibe.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 233d

Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 12 pts · 234d (1 reply)

In my experience living in a Football crazy country, Football fans' almost invariably secondarize moral or principles (in they have any) to their love of the game or whatever team they're fans of.

I really don't expect anybody but a handful of people to boycott the World cup as a question of principle, though given the stories coming from there it's possible that a sense of self-preservation will see many people refrain from going to watch games in the US, but that will be purelly driven by selfish reasons rather than "taking a stand for what is right".

Football is one of the greatest sources of tribalist identity around and for most people tribalism sits above any and all moral, ethics or principles (as is obvious for example in how MAGA types are defending those Pedophiles who are "chiefs" of their tribe, or how many people take their moral stand on the Gaza Genocide from whatever their favority party leaders say, rather than it being purelly based on the inherent morality of the actions commited there).

Buddahriffic@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 233d

Case in point: sports-based riots.

altphoto@lemmy.today · 11 pts · 234d (2 replies)

Going to that thing would be like going to Hitler's birthday party. No self loving human person should be entertaining these terrible people unless they are slaves...I hope you guys who are slaves do find a way out one day.

LwL@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 234d (1 reply)

More like going to the 1936 olympics. Not that I disagree with the conclusion at all...

altphoto@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 234d

Ah, good point. I totally forgot about it.

echodot@feddit.uk · 10 pts · 234d (3 replies)

Supporting the Trump admin is like the least egregious thing FIFA has ever done.

Sturgist@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 234d

Agreed, that "Peace Prize" was up there though....

Reannlegge@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 234d (1 reply)

Is it not FIFA who is usually bribed rather than them faltering some big orange baby with a make believe award.

echodot@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 234d

Yeah but because of their readiness to take bribes they have literally set about in motion events that are resulted in large numbers of people being killed.

ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online · 9 pts · 233d (1 reply)

I was never much of a sports fan, but there is no fucking way I am going to the US right now.

BanMe@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 233d

Wise. If American citizens aren't safe in America, how would travelers be?

OshagHennessey@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 234d

I agree this should happen.

But why stop there? The rogue state that is the US was made possible and brought to you by regulatory and legal capture by the largest US corporations, who continue to support the current regime. If you continue contributing money to the largest US corporations, they will continue their tyranny.

If you're still buying from and supporting the largest US corporations, you're contributing to the fascist machine that is currently trying to consume and control the entire world's political systems.

Unless your very survival depends on it, if you care about democracy, you need to start thinking about how to live without depending on these corporations and institutions. Otherwise, we're only paying for the privilege of our oppression.

umbrellacloud@leminal.space · 9 pts · 233d
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Bubbaonthebeach@lemmy.ca · 8 pts · 233d (1 reply)

Please attend the Canadian and Mexican host cities 2026 FIFA games. 100% attendance at those cities and lower attendance in the US cities will send a better message for moving future events out of the US.

AlexLost@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 233d

Did you see attendance for the recent world juniors? It was pretty bad. Only USA games were anywhere near "full". America is a bad sporting nation, they only support themselves.

SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 234d (1 reply)

Stadions will be filled to the brim. For every person who takes a stand there will be millions who would love to go.

The stadions will be packed even if the US becomes an authoritarian monarchy under Trump and there is a pre-game public execution to entertain the crowds.

umbrellacloud@leminal.space · 2 pts · 233d
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Ulrich_the_Old@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 234d

I think the fifa peace prize winner just started an illegal war.

MrSulu@lemmy.ml · 6 pts · 233d

Fifa suck ass. After their "Please accept our totally bullshit peace price" fiasco. Screw them. Do not do business with those who do business like that with Trump

Gammelfisch@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 233d

This year's World Cu in the USA is very similar to the 1936 Olympics. The only big difference, the US public transportation network to stadiums sucks shit.

Confused_Emus@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 234d

Definitely in favor of this idea, and not just because I wasn't looking forward to the large influx of tourists.

Zombie@feddit.uk · 4 pts · 234d

But how else will we know who's finally been decided winner of The Football? For this year at least, and indeed, at most.

https://youtu.be/MusyO7J2inM

Furbag@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 233d

This is a double whammy of a boycott with both FIFA and Trump admin. Easiest boycott of my life, but someday I hope I can watch professional soccer and not have to support either of these shifty organizations.

answersplease77@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 233d

soccer fans would support satan and buy his tickets if he was the owner of their favorite team even if he was using the money they pay for him to kill their families

SnarkoPolo@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 234d

But but Dear Leader won the FIFA Piece Pries!

ThunderQueen@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 234d (4 replies)
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SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 233d (3 replies)

The prize that never previously existed?

ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online · 3 pts · 233d (1 reply)

And never will afterward.

ZDL@lazysoci.al · 3 pts · 233d

It will exist next year and the year after and probably the year after that until Trump is out of power.

ThunderQueen@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 233d
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Bebopalouie@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 234d (1 reply)

I am holier than thou. Well not really, I don’t watch any sports so I boycott by default.

umbrellacloud@leminal.space · 1 pts · 233d
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dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 234d

Jokes on everyone else, football is cross country running with extra steps.

couldhavebeenyou@lemmy.zip · -1 pts · 234d

Imagine buying tickets not knowing where it'll be??