Trump, 2026 World Cup and human rights: Football in the political spotlight!

Trump, 2026 World Cup and human rights: Football in the political spotlight!

In one year, on June 8, 2026, the World Cup will begin in the USA, Mexico and Canada. This event will be particularly important in the USA, where the majority of the games will take place. Donald Trump, the current president, has a strong interest in sporting events and could use the World Cup to improve the United States' reputation. A clear focus is on the question of how the political situation and the views of fans could have a possible impact on the tournament. Martin Lüthe, an American studies scholar at the John F. Kennedy Institute, raises concerns that soccer fans should be cautious about political statements, particularly regarding the Trump administration.

The USA already hosted the World Cup in 1994, but football was significantly less popular back then. The sport's current popularity in the United States remains questionable, especially when compared to other sports. There are also concerns about whether Major League Soccer can attract enough fans to make the World Cup a complete success. In this context, possible human rights violations are pointed out. Amnesty International warns that the World Cup could be overshadowed by human rights issues, which could deter some fans, particularly from South and Central America, from traveling to the World Cup.

Political and social dynamics

Lüthe expresses skepticism that the World Cup will have a positive impact on human rights in the USA. He believes FIFA and the US political leadership are similar in their resistance to criticism and both could seek to profit from the mega-event. The friendship between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, could actually bring economic benefits to both sides.

Human Rights Watch has also criticized FIFA, citing poor working conditions and the rights of migrants. It is argued that FIFA is failing in its responsibilities when it comes to respecting human rights in the country hosting the World Cup. This raises additional questions about the legitimacy of the World Cup in the United States and increases fears about the safety and rights of fans and athletes.

Sport as a connecting element

Despite the numerous challenges, there remains hope that sporting events in the USA can have a unifying force. However, this success is heavily dependent on the performance of the US national team, which recently lost a disappointing game against Switzerland 0-4. The coming months will be crucial to see how these different aspects develop and what impact they will have on the 2026 World Cup.

Further information on the critical voices regarding the World Cup can be found at Mirror and details about the political dimensions of the World Cup can be found in the report by rbb24 be read.