The World Cup is scheduled to take place in 100 days. But what was promised is not kept. Never before in the history of the tournament have there been so many problems just before the start as this time.
The World Cup is scheduled to begin in the USA, Canada and Mexico in just under three months. Actually. Because gradually doubts arise about the smooth process. Instead of football, which is actually what it’s supposed to be about, the discussion is about politics, violence, war and a lack of money.
Anyone who thought that the problems at the World Cup in Qatar were extraordinary will now be proven wrong: Shortly before the start of the tournament, the upcoming World Cup is burdened with so many uncertainties and unanswered questions that have probably never been seen before in its history.
The opposite was promised just a year ago. Fifa President Gianni Infantino raved about the best show ever created on the planet and promised that everyone would feel safe and welcome.
For weeks now, there has been discussion about operations by Trump’s ICE force, which takes action against illegal immigrants and is responsible for the deaths of several people. About violence from drug gangs in Mexico, about the Middle East war and the associated possible exclusion of the Iranian team from the World Cup. And about a high three-digit million sum that is earmarked for World Cup security and organization and is now blocked in the US budget.
Calls for a boycott are also made at regular intervals, most recently in the course of the discussion about Trump’s crazy demand that Greenland should become American. Demands such as those made by Minister of State for Sport Christiane Schenderlein that sport should not be exploited seem almost helpless. Or from DFB sports director Rudi Völler, who described the boycott as “pointless”.
Fifa can currently sugarcoat it all and pretend that a peaceful football festival could take place in the summer that will delight millions of fans. Many will not be blinded by this and will probably think twice about traveling to the World Cup due to the world situation.
If it weren’t so unrealistic, we would have to think about exit scenarios now. But there will be neither a relocation of the host countries nor a cancellation of the tournament. Both would be a death knell for FIFA. And the biggest football nations will never boycott the World Cup. There is too much at stake for them, especially money.
That’s why the prospects – it has to be said – are not good: the football world will be a guest in chaos.
