There is a pretty long article pertaining to Europe's reaction to the various tariffs and threats that have been implemented or will be implemented. https://news.sky.com/story/trump-la...eenland-threats-as-envoy-plans-visit-13489831 That is a pretty long and convoluted article but the most relevant part seems to be here: I tend to be on the side that the proposed boycotts should not happen as I believe that sports (particularly football/soccer) should not be politicized, even though they are all the time, but I think it would generate attention and, particularly if a lot of the EU jumps on board, actually have an overall positive impact on the world position on Trump's tantrums. I also think that we should discuss this but I would hope that we stick to the impacts a boycott would have on USA soccer and the world wide soccer experience. This does not involve the internal USA issues and I hope to see that the maturity of the posters here keep this thread mostly civil. But my hope is probably hanging by a VERY thin and fragile thread. MODS: If you feel this won't work or think it is too political then please close this thread as its true importance is probably quite minimal.
There's a reason why there have been multiple political boycotts of Olympics but never one of the FIFA World Cup. There have been a few political boycotts of World Cup qualifiers. Notably Israel in the 1950s when they were still in the Asian Confederation. In 1974 USSR boycotted a playoff against Chile because of the Pinochet coup. That's about it. The Associations are typically very independent of political influence. I don't think anything will happen.
We had a thread about this in the past and it was taken down as it got too political. Its highly unlikely that European nations would boycott the World Cup at this point. There would need to be a dramatic turn of events. Rhetoric would have to turn into severe action. All possible, but remember where we've had the World Cup and Olympics in the recent past. ‘Why Germany probably won't get political at 2026 World Cup "I can't imagine that the DFB (German Football Association) will actively pursue a political agenda against the host country again after the negative experiences in Qatar," Mutz told DW. "The DFB is exposing itself to accusations of double standards because it criticized the situation in Qatar so harshly and will now presumably remain silent about the US, but the association will have to accept that."
In reality, we should absolutely have the WC ripped from us. What we are doing with blocking various fan bases from even attending is enough to justify it getting ripped. Unfortunately for those fan bases, FIFA is corrupt, and it's also just too late in the game to move it, but yeah, I would even as an American, totally understand and view it as justified to have the WC stripped of us (just as I supported ripping it from Russia and Qatar for differing reasons).
The US is not going to invade Greenland in the near future (ie absent a unilateral independence declaration with Chinese/Russian fingerprints, which is not going to happen between now and June) Virtually 100% of the fans of countries on the travel ban list who will or would have attended the WC already live here (or in Canada) anyway.
I wonder, and I know it only effects a very few, if people from the "banned" countries that live in Canada or Mexico legally will have the ability to travel to the USA. I believe that said people would be travelling on their own country's passport and so could easily be recognized at border checkpoints. Also, since neither Canada or Mexico enforce the ban, could a person enter either country and then enter the USA easily. It used to be that there was absolutely no document check at border crossings for Canada, or Mexico (Mex in the 70s for sure) if entry that way will be used to try and circumvent the bans. In the 70s, a LONG time ago admittingly, I was able to cross from either country to the USA without any check at all. Although once, leaving the USA going into Canada, I was asked if I had anything to declare and I said no and was waved through without any further problem. The only country I have traveled to since the '80s was Canada and that was around 2000 but, even then I never had to show any ID of any sort but I did have my bags checked going into Canada but not coming back. It seems that the Canadian and Mexican borders could be flash points for some kind of ICE crackdown. BTW: The Canadian border, as far as I know, is MUCH less interdicted that the Mexican one and I have no idea if enforcement is even remotely strong and the many places where Canada and the USA meet. I used to cross many times from Montana and back at a little back road crossing and I never even saw police from USA of Canada. But I doubt if any significant number of people from any "banned" country will try the Canadian route just for the WC. I also wonder if Trump throws another tantrum and banns all countries that do not help with the takeover of Greenland. This government is just too unpredictable for my likening. I know, even as a USA citizen and veteran, I would not want to travel outside the USA right now.
What would be more embarrassing for Trump then a boycott is for the players to have some kind of protest on the field during the walk out. Pull something from under their shirts or what not. That would infuriate him.
Huh? Which fanbases are being barred from attending? Just today the “FIFA Pass” fast track visa process for World Cup ticket holders went live. Such a program is (to my knowledge) unprecedented in recent US history. Obviously it’s not a free visa like Russia and Qatar offered, but the US isn’t in a position where it would be feasible to offer such a program. We also don’t know what kind of leniency or favorable processing outcomes might be offered behind the scenes on a case-by-case basis for confirmed ticket holders who use the FIFA Pass system. Iranians are banned, but that’s been in place for decades. There will nevertheless be thousands of Iran fans at their games (coming from North America and Europe). Otherwise, off the top of my head, it would be nearly impossible to get a normal tourist visa from Haiti. But the number of fans that would’ve come from Haiti is likely in the dozens. And (once again) their stadiums will be packed with Haitians from the diaspora.
Most of the people in question (largely Haitians and Iranians) are Canadian citizens or whatever they call the green card equivalent there. The former would be coming here on their Canadian passport. Again, nothing at all kinetic is going to happen with Greenland in the near future
Weird, I traveled by car into and out of Mexico in the early 90's - I had to show ID and confirm I was a US citizen (not hard as I clearly looked the part). My worst ever experience traveling (and I've traveled all over the world) was in Canada in the late 90's. I spent 2 hours with their version of CBP to justify why I was there. It was for work - they couldn't understand why a Canadian couldn't do what I was there to do. They certainly could've, but we didn't have Canadians and like I told them - I'm just doing what my boss asked me to do.
I believe that my experience and yours are different mainly because I crossed at extremely under utilized locations and you crossed at one of the many busier locations I did see a very small building on the side of the road labeled something like "Customs" but I only saw one official and I was not inconvenienced at all. That was 25 years ago and even the lesser crossings might now be manned 24/7 and with much more self important people The one guard I encountered seemed more interested in getting back inside than in actually inspecting anything. But, again, I was crossing at a point where it was very very rural and pretty far from anything that was of interest and the purpose was fishing. I doubt that crossing is unguarded now but the fishing in Canada is probably every bit as good if you have a local guide.
In Canada it was at the Calgary airport. In Texas (from Mexico) it was a small outpost with a single CBP officer. In any case, I think the WC won't be impacted.
That "something" they pull out "from under their shirts or what not"? The Epstein Files! (come on, somebody had to say it)
Outrageous thing to say! The World Cup should be relocated to the UK.........fans from all countries will be made welcome - without having to provide their mobile phone history! Stadiums will be full of fans from the countries competing in the games. World Cups are supposed to be about the fans NOT corporate outings for locals and the fans attending games should treat their World Cup like is a holiday where they get to sample local culture and beer and NOT be made to feel like 2nd class citizens at best or even criminals. Already in the UK people are talking about it being the worst ever World Cup - there will be less English fans in the stadiums (if its not boycotted beforehand) than for any World Cup over the last 50 years, they'll be less England fans there than there were in bloody Russia, who wants to go and watch football somewhere where you feel about as welcome as a fart in a lift? Its my understanding that a load of countries won't even be allowed to have their fans attend in the first place. Hardly a 'festival for football fans'.
Arguably the entire thread should be deleted, I don't think my post was specifically political though, I didn't offer an opinion on whether I agree or disagree with invading Greenland, just that I don't see it happening