Leander Schaerlaeckens has argued that the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States alongside Canada and Mexico, will be tainted by US geopolitical actions, placing it alongside the most shameful incarnations of the tournament. In an opinion piece, he draws parallels with World Cups staged under authoritarian regimes.
Schaerlaeckens cites the 1934 tournament in Italy under Benito Mussolini, the 1978 event in Argentina under General Jorge Videla, and the 2018 World Cup in Russia under Vladimir Putin. He quotes Fifa president João Havelange, who said at the 1978 opening ceremony: "At last, the world can see the true face of Argentina." Germany captain Berti Vogts also claimed that order reigned in Argentina and that he had not seen a single political prisoner.
The 2026 edition, the author contends, will be similarly compromised. He points to the recent abduction of Venezuela's president and his wife, and US President Donald Trump's declaration that the country is now effectively an American-ruled territory. He also references Trump's reduced support for Ukraine, the sinking of boats on suspicion of drug trafficking, threats to invade Mexico and annex Canada, and the initiation of global trade wars.
Despite these actions, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has remained supportive of Trump, according to Schaerlaeckens. The author compares the US-hosted event to recent controversial tournaments, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was acquired under corruption and led to human rights abuses, and the 2030 and 2034 editions, which will be held across three continents and in Saudi Arabia respectively.
Schaerlaeckens concludes that the World Cup has become a convenient vehicle for sportswashing, and that the US-hosted tournament fits neatly into this pattern.
