Dr John Mohan Razu
The 2026 World Cup, which is in the mid-way has widened its boundaries. In 2022, 32 national teams played in World Cup. Currently there are 48 national teams, Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan have just made their debut. The players representing these countries after the World Cup could move to Europe’s major leagues after this world Cup? Who knows. It is no longer impossible. The current World Cup tournament is being played in three countries: 1) Mexico, 2) Canada, and 3) United States of America. Playing in three countries has turned nationality into a source of international concern.
Despite FIFA awarded President Trump of United States a peace prize in an apparent attempt to soften his immigration policies after the American president not considered by Noble Peace Prize last year in Oslo–the country’s stringent and anti-immigration seem to cast a shadow over the tournament. Gifting an imitation of the World Cup by the chief of FIFA to Trump to soften his immigration policies. Though Iran has qualified, but its participation in the initial phase was doubtful, but then allowed on a condition that the team should leave after its fixtures.
Somali referee Omar Artan could not officiate at the FIFA tournament as he was denied American visa and so had to return to his country. Over and above, BBC has reported that several British fans have seen their previously approved visas suddenly changed status days before the start of the competition, effectively barring them from entering to the United States. World Cup is a global phenomenon which bring thousands and millions of people across the world to watch and meet people from diverse cultures and continents.
World Cup is also regard as the melting pot of cultures wherein millions of people travel right across the world to watch the matches and billions watch the tournament on TV screens. It used to bea unifier thus filled with connectivity. However, it is at this point a question arise: how does the fans or spectators perceive it? For example, in Spain, the absence for the first time of any Ral Madrid players in the national World Cup squad sparked intense debate. It went viral as Read Madrid—arguably the best-known private institution in Spain and worldwide – held presidential elections for the first time in 20-years.
Real Madrid supporters, seeing Spain win the World Cup – the team is considered among the favourites–without a single ‘madridista’ player in the national squad has aroused their feelings so deeply and intensely.Italy, a four-time champions of the World Cup has failed to qualify. Its last appearance was in 2014.Its non-appearance has created generational gap between the then and now. Scotland is playing in the World Cup for the first time after 28 years. A number of offers the government of Scotland have done for the people to see the matches.
World Cup is in the market place where the movement of people across the continents keep shuttling between United States, Mexico, and Canada to see their favourite teams playing. Restaurants, lodges, and clubs have opened their services to thousands and lakhs of people cris-crossing the joints and places. World cup used to unify people of different cultures and traditions. Foot-balling is the most liked and preferred game in the world where almost all the countries of the world play.
Particularly, FIFA CUP – 2026 has generated more controversies and also a political stage, a source of nationality enjoined by disappointment. It has the power to change the nation’s laws and policies.
The ways with which American immigration behaved and never allowed people with valid visas away shows the power these agencies wield.At the theoretical level, World Cup contains an element of farce; it creates the illusion, just for the time being that the ordinary people matter. However, FIFA is controlled by the wealthy people who are endowed with enormous power and could wield authority.
FIFA as the top agency that decides everything in the world of football enjoys power because it is a billion-dollar industry. For the telecast, selecting the venues, and other nitty-gritties involves lots of moneys so that those who want get the licences should be in a position to oblige the demands of FIFA. This is why when elections are held for FIFA’s portfolios the top leaders and politicians are involved including deciding on the venues and host of others.
2026-World Cup has polarised the world and thus reflects what is happening in the world. It mirrors exactly the world we live. Sports used to bring people of various kinds to a place to share and enjoy relishing the food, chatting with people and visiting the places that opens up civilisational values and cultural convergences and divergences. Since our world has vertically and horizontally split and thusdivided, we come across hatred and venom, vengeance and anger have gripped many who wants to polarise the people by employing binaries such as majoritarianism and xenophobic tendencies.
Foot-ball is a skill-geared echoing team spirit, team work, and perfect understanding of each other. A beautiful game has now been converted to a kind of ‘battle’, where battle-lines have been drawn.
Let not our prejudices and bias amplify and, in the process, narrowing down the overall spirit of the foot-ball. Let not global politics reflect in the game of foot-ball. A game that everyone likes be played in the spirit of love, peace, and fairness.Let not politicians creates borders for FIFA. It is borderless and so everyone likes the same – the rich and the poor, developed and underdeveloped.
