Apartheid World Cup? Tournament in the USA reflects Trump's racist and imperialist policies

Major sporting events often promote themselves as celebrations of humanity, mutual respect, and friendship between nations. But what we see in the United States today has been called the "Apartheid World Cup."

It's not new that the FIFA-organized football tournament is completely subservient to capital. For decades, sponsors have profited billions from the competition, which has also been the scene of numerous cases of corruption and serious labor violations.

However, this is the first time that the host country is at war with another nation that will also compete in the championship. The USA, which bombs Iran – in conjunction with Israel – may face its war target on the field as well.

The participation of the Iranian national team has become the greatest example of the geopolitical implications that will mark this World Cup. Qualified for the competition since 2025, the Iranian team saw everything change with the beginning of Zionist and imperialist aggressions.

Players received their visas only at the last minute, and 15 members of the coaching staff were simply denied entry into the US. Furthermore, Iran was also forced to move its headquarters from the US to Mexico.

Players will only be allowed on American soil hours before matches and must leave as soon as the game ends. This is an unprecedented example of segregation in World Cups.

The US also indiscriminately revoked all ticket quotas allocated to Iranian fans. Those who purchased tickets, as well as flights and accommodations, will not be reimbursed.

Racist Policies

Donald Trump's policy of persecuting immigrants from poor countries, which brought the US to the brink of social upheaval with thousands protesting against ICE police, is also being applied rigorously.

Players from the Senegal and Uzbekistan national teams suffered humiliating searches on the airport tarmac. Many are athletes who play for major European teams, but to the US they are simply Arabs and Black people.

The videos circulating online refer to the treatment given to drug traffickers attempting to enter the country with drugs, or anyone suspected of having links to terrorism. In fact, it was with this justification that the US prevented the participation of the best African referee of the moment.

Omar Artan, from Somalia, possessed a valid visa, but was barred by US immigration services after an 11-hour interview. The allegation given by the authorities is "suspicion of involvement with terrorism."

The fact is that since January, Trump has been making xenophobic speeches against Somali immigrants, and measures have been underway for months to facilitate the deportation of refugees from that country.

Members of the Iraqi national team also reported significant stress at American airports. An official photographer for the delegation was denied entry in Chicago, and striker Aymen Hussein was detained for hours in a security room before being allowed to enter.

The World Cup Reflects the World

In a world marked by the genocide that Israel continues to commit in Palestine, in addition to Trump's imperialist aggressions and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it is no surprise that the World Cup reflects this scenario of geopolitical catastrophe, which also strongly affects Latin America.

Mexico, which also hosts the tournament alongside the USA and Canada, is experiencing one of the largest social mobilizations in recent years.

Teachers on strike are occupying the streets of the country demanding better salaries, dignified pensions, and more investment in public education. The movement denounces precisely the priority given to large infrastructure projects and spending related to the sporting event, while social areas continue to suffer cuts and precarious working conditions.

On the eve of the World Cup opening, the Mexican government tried to negotiate an end to the demonstrations to avoid protests during the opening ceremony, but without success.

Teachers' organizations promise to maintain the mobilizations, highlighting that, behind the spectacle sold by FIFA, profound social inequalities persist.

Although football was born and popularized within the global working class, as long as it remains subservient to the interests of capitalists, we will never be able to fully enjoy it.

That is why the World Cup, as a purely commercial event, leaves so much to be desired and even violates basic rights. The construction of a new society, without exploitation, is the path to restoring football to its playful and political essence.