Accommodating over 35 teams, North America will prepare to facilitate the stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The United States has 11 cities that will host teams, including Kansas City.
Concerns have arisen among players and political leaders in European countries. President of the German soccer Bundesliga club, St. Pauli, Oke Göttlich, said that teams should “seriously consider and discuss” boycotting the World Cup. According to the New York Times, however, many prominent European political figures have stepped forward and spoken out against a boycott, such as Bernd Neuendorf, the president of the German Bundesliga.
On June 13, 2018, the United Bid of the host countries won them the right to be the home of the 2026 World Cup. Since 2018, the United States has changed presidents and foreign policies. According to Trac Immigration, as of Feb. 7, ICE is holding 68,289 people in detention centers, with around a quarter having a criminal conviction. Holding such a plethora of innocent people captive, against their will, is not a morally debatable subject. People are people, and should be treated as such, and not framed as “aliens.”
Tensions have only grown during the Trump Administration. The conflict over budgeting in the U.S. government has resulted in a partial government shutdown, with TSA workers’ salaries not being paid. President Trump deployed ICE agents, not trained in security work, to 14 airports in response to the TSA workers’ mass resignation. Constant social media posts and speculation are being produced by witnesses of ICE’s airport presence and the intended effects. White House Border Czar Tom Homan said that while ICE is being trained in security work, they are not ceasing “immigration enforcement duties.” President Trump said that ICE will make arrests if undocumented immigrants are spotted, but it is not the priority.
According to Inside FIFA, Heimo Schirgi, FIFA Chief Operating Officer of the World Cup, said, “We are committed to working with all the Host Cities and World Cup stadiums to meet ambitious sustainability and human rights goals and ensure that the tournament operations are respectful to people and the planet.”
No major boycotts have taken place, either by politicians or athletes, and the location of the 2026 World Cup has remained unchanged. According to the New York Times If a boycott were to happen, it would need to be unanimous to have any effect. Strong words, powerful as they may be, will not make revisions. Words call for a change, actions make one.
Countries such as Iran, who have high tensions with the United States, will attend the World Cup. The United States first initiated conflict with Iran on Feb. 28. Iran previously boycotted the World Cup draw on Dec. 5, 2025, in the United States capital, due to visa issues. The Trump administration enacted a travel ban, or partial ban (travel restrictions) for 75 countries, including Iran. Eliminating the opposition from a chance at victory before the competition has even started, this cannot result in a true victory for anyone.
Competitors traveling to the United States are at risk of facing antagonism. While any opposition of players wanting to support their home country will face equal levels of hatred. During the 2026 Winter Olympics, U.S. athletes who spoke out against the mental struggle of representing a country with policies they disagree with will face the hostility of Americans who argue that an athlete should be nothing more than something to be watched.
Athletes build their platforms, yet are not supposed to use them. In a world full of diversity and culture, sports and peaceful competitions unite us. They should be protected and cherished, not feared and hated. This symbol of harmony and oneness could be destroyed by the prejudiced racism of our country. So, in 20 years, will we look at Göttlich’s words as a warning or a regret? Now is the time to act, before cautions become reality.
