Opinion: removing the US as 2026 World Cup co‑host would be painful but justified

An opinion piece in The Guardian argues that removing the United States as a co‑host of the 2026 World Cup would be “eminently sad” but “entirely justified,” saying the decision would harm fans and cities while raising profound ethical questions about holding the tournament in the US.

The article notes the US secured 2026 hosting alongside Canada and Mexico after earlier failed bids, and describes how hopes for the tournament were tied to the sport’s growth in America. It criticises high ticket prices, onerous demands on host cities and what the writer calls Fifa’s support for an “openly corrupt administration.” The piece also highlights recent federal violence, saying federal agents have killed two people in Minneapolis in the last three weeks and naming Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and it cites reporting that 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025 and that immigration officers had fired on people 19 times since the start of the crackdown, figures attributed to The Trace.

The writer questions whether the US is a safe, welcoming host while citing broader actions by the administration including an immigration crackdown that has resulted in more detentions of people with no criminal record and raids targeting largely Democratic metro areas — ten of the 11 US World Cup host metros are described as Democratic‑leaning, with the Dallas area an outlier.

Key Topics

Sports, Fifa, Renee Good, Alex Pretti, Ice