Vol. 30 No. 333 (2026)
The 2026 World Cup and the Diplomacy of Exclusion
Soccer has always been a mirror of global encounters, tensions, and disputes, but as we approach June 2026, the tournament seems to have mutated from a sporting celebration into a geopolitical battleground. We are not witnessing the blanket boycotts of the 1980s; we are living in an era of fragmented resistance, where social pressure and legalistic rigor dictate the rules of the game. The main protagonist of this crisis is not a player, but the United States' immigration policy. The tightening of visa requirements and border restrictions threaten to strip the World Cup of its essence: universality. Geopolitics threatens to overshadow the game, as athletes from 'unfriendly' territories face potential disqualification. This looming exclusion rests on administrative technicalities, leaving sporting excellence as a secondary concern.
FIFA now faces a defining ethical and legal crisis. Should entry bans prevent a qualified team from competing, the organization risks prioritizing political convenience over its own fundamental statutes of neutrality, "fair competition" disappears. Given this, relocating venues to Mexico or Canada emerges not as an option, but as a necessity to prevent the regulations from ultimately awarding points in court rather than on the pitch.
Beyond the logistical aspects, the climate of insecurity and the recent military interventions in Venezuela and Nigeria have eroded the image of the U.S. as a neutral host. Although FIFA's harsh sanctions attempt to stem a massive boycott by federations, the damage is already visible. While fans shun hostile borders, the hollow VIP suites reflect a deeper diplomatic void. This absence of international leadership transforms the empty seats into a silent yet resounding protest. Should politics prevail, the 2026 World Cup will be remembered as the event that fractured the dream of global unity, proving that even the world’s game is no longer immune to the borders that divide us.
Tulio Guterman, Director – February 2026
Published:
2026-02-07
