This World Cup is Bad

The FIFA Men’s World Cup is supposed to be an international celebration of global football (called soccer here in the United States). In theory, it’s a gathering of the best male players from 48 different countries who all descend on the host country to test their abilities, delight crowds, and create lasting memories for the global audience.

In practice, however, the World Cup has become a symbol of forced labor, violence, and corrupt politics. This year’s tournament, which is being hosted between Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., is no exception. After President Donald Trump flirted with trying to get Cup games moved out of blue states, FIFA president Gianni Infantino jumped into action, launching a full on diplomacy campaign. He invented a now infamous “FIFA Peace Prize” to give to Trump shortly before he launched an offensive war against Iran, another World Cup participant.

Infantino also moved the World Cup draw, a splashy global event that determines which teams play in which groups that kick off the first stage of the tournament, from inside the Sphere in Las Vegas to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., which Trump has taken over since his re-election.

I am finding it harder and harder to reconcile my love of the sport with the real world harm it perpetuates all over the globe.