At this rate, I'll be amazed if there are any WC matches in the US next year. For the first time since 1994, I won't be watching, unless the regime falls and sanity is restored. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cdjzknpxlv2o
yep, pretty soon countries (or individual players) will start threatening to boycott the WC. then soon after that countries will go ahead and announce a boycott.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/oct/06/uefa-approval-domestic-games-to-be-played-abroad Uefa gives ‘reluctant’ approval for domestic games to be played abroad this season Governing body says go-ahead shouldn’t set precedent Barcelona poised to play in US, and Milan in Australia Uefa has granted permission for La Liga and Serie A to stage a game each abroad this winter, meaning European league games will be played on different continents for the first time, in a potentially incendiary move. The governing body’s go-ahead means that, pending the formality of Fifa approval, Barcelona will face Villarreal in Miami this December in a move that breaks with decades of tradition across the continent. Milan have also been permitted to play Como in Perth, Australia, in February. Uefa, though, claims its go-ahead will not herald a torrent of similar relocations, saying its hands have been tied by gaps in football’s regulations. In a statement Uefa said it had “reiterated its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country”, adding: “However, given that the relevant Fifa regulatory framework – currently under review – is not clear and detailed enough, the Uefa executive committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it.” It is the latest contentious step in a saga that has inflamed passions across the sport. Uefa’s executive committee was due to vote on the proposals last month and the Guardian understands it was invited to give its approval. But, amid a backlash from supporters’ groups and criticism from within the European Commission, it opted to engage in a “round of consultation” before reaching a final decision. The Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, sought to allay concerns that the dam has been burst by a move that could change the face of football. “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions,” he said. “Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns. “While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment.” Senior figures in Uefa believe there was no choice but to take a stance that they believe is pragmatic. High among the considerations was that a legal standoff with the plan’s proponents could have resulted and, should that have been lost, the floodgates could have opened. Uefa said its national associations had agreed to engage with it before submitting any future requests but the sport still looks highly vulnerable to similar scenarios unfolding unless all stakeholders show sufficient appetite to bolt the door. That was first prised open last year when the US-based promoter Relevent Sports agreed a settlement with Fifa, dismissing the global governing body from a lawsuit contesting its policy banning league games from taking place overseas. Fifa had previously blocked a request from Relevent in 2018 to stage a match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami, although no substantive moves to close any regulatory loopholes appear to have been made in the intervening years. A working group established in 2024 to examine the rules has yet to form any conclusions. This year Relevent was awarded the global commercial rights to Uefa’s club competitions for the 2027-2033 cycle.Football Supporters Europe acknowledged Uefa’s show of opposition to the principle of hosting domestic games abroad but pressed football’s authorities to rule out any repeat. “The onus is now on Fifa to plug this regulatory gap,” it said. “We welcome Uefa’s commitment to work with Fifa to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions.” FSE also urged La Liga and Serie A to withdraw their plans to host games on foreign soil and “act for the greater good of football”. The Premier League’s stance is that it will not follow La Liga and Serie A in requesting to relocate domestic fixtures.
I’ve been slowly pulling away from football - hopefully making it easier to wean myself off completely at some point. It’s become such a trigger now sadly.
I'm right there with you. If it's not Liverpool it's highly unlikely that I'm watching it. If it is Liverpool, the odds of me being free on a saturday or sunday at mid-morning or early afternoon is slim to none given all my kids' activities. Our CL games are on in the background during weekdays. Quick scans of the football sites on the interwebs once or twice a week for a few minutes to keep abreast of league positions in the other big 5 leagues. Monitoring developments at Liverpool ~daily.
Would love it but I seriously doubt it. It would only have an impact if there were a large number of countries and they included the big powers. Just looking at the world you have a bunch of leaders who are aligned with Trump. These include Argentina and Italy along with lots of others. Other countries that are democracies, have large chunks of the population who are aligned with Trump making a boycott a massive political liability. Would put Britain, France, Germany and actually most of Western Europe in this category. And of course you have a bunch of autocrats who don't care. Not sure there are many countries left who are overwhelming against Trump, and are important enough in football to matter. Oh yeah and money the money is in participating not boycotting.
If FiFa had any gumption and Infantino wasn't a total asshole-stooge - they would do a 1986 Colombia - Mexico and pivot to Italy or Spain or Britain or somewhere that hasn't had it recently
To late and why I sadly hate what's going on I'm not sure he's done anything that would warrant it from FIFA's perspective. What he's doing now was long running government policy in the last two World Cup hosts. Visa's might be an issue, specifically for Iran and maybe some others depending on who qualifies. Guessing the Orange Orangutan pull out the same play as always. Will privately work out a deal so they can come in while publicly screaming about closing the border and making 'merica safe
Interfered with the trophy presentation of the Club World Cup...... that disgusting performance would be enough for me A man who never knows when and where he is most assuredly not wanted.
anyone close to Atlanta, interested in ordering WC SF tickets? I dare you - DARE YOU - to see what they're priced at. you will not believe it. Warning: don't click on this while eating or drinking. https://www.stubhub.com/soccer-worl...gn=1101l799&utm_content=0&PCID=partnerize_all
Prices are pretty disgusting. There are still tickets available via direct sales in Boston at the hospitality level and they are cheaper than these seats.
As opposed to the Brexiters that do that as well and get away with it? When you pray at your Charlie Kirk altar at night - just how much of a pretzel do you twist yourself into?
I think you meant to type "Meanwhile US billionaires, including a man who somehow ended up to be POTUS, and a member of the UK Royal Family rape children and it's brushed under the rug."
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_...-host-city-safety-2026-world-cup-donald-trump The Predator in Chief gets to say where WC matches will be held. Fuck Infantino for caving to Mango Mussolini. Cancel the whole thing.