Geopolitical football: Iran? Trump? How the game can stand strong in a fractured world

The 2026 World Cup is set to be a politically contentious event, reflecting the growing global unease. Concerns include the host country, the United States, with issues such as armed immigration officials and tighter visa restrictions. Additionally, one of the qualifying nations, Iran, is facing a public uprising against its leadership, with the regime cracking down on its citizens. Other qualifying countries also have concerns, such as democratic backsliding in Tunisia, ecological crimes in Ecuador, and the future host country, Saudi Arabia. The article suggests that the 2026 World Cup may serve as a reminder of the depressing state of the world, and could be an event that goes down in infamy. However, it also acknowledges that the issue of how global sport should engage with such political and ethical issues has remained largely unresolved.