this post was submitted on 09 Jan 2026
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Calls are growing on social media for international soccer fans to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

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[–] MrTrono@lemmy.world 213 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Our government is currently murdering citizens and disappearing brown people. Literally, why would anybody come here. My advice to everybody is that it's not worth the risk.

[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 134 points 5 days ago (3 children)

I can’t imagine why the average football fan would risk going to the USA from another country right now. Even if they’re straight, white, Christian males.

Go to Mexico or Canada sure. But a fascist country with a stated goal of ethnic cleansing?

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 98 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (6 children)

You're over-estimating the intelligence and political engagement of the average football fan.

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 25 points 5 days ago (7 children)

I didn't think footballs were capable of either?

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[–] auraithx@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 5 days ago

Especially those who can afford to go to the World Cup.

My FILs pal is spending over £100,000 to take him and his 3 pals.

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[–] Ghostalmedia@lemmy.world 24 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Obsessive fans wait 4 years for this, and the last World Cup showed that those idiots will spend thousands to visit your country, even if it’s doing some terrible things.

[–] CompactFlax@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 5 days ago

I’d forgotten about that one. Yeah. Wow.

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[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 41 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Boycott ALL international sports events in America or Russia. They don't deserve the attention or the economic boost.

[–] Kondeeka@lemmy.world 1 points 9 hours ago

Since quite a lot of people here wouldn't watch the games to begin with: check which brands advertise and sponsor the games, boycott those.

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 92 points 5 days ago (2 children)

American here. Don't come see us right now. Our place is a fucking mess and we really need to clean up, and it's gonna be a long, long time before we're ready for visitors.

Our transportation will be fucked as well

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[–] nothingcorporate@lemmy.today 68 points 5 days ago (5 children)

If people watched the Qatar World Cup where they literally killed thousands of slaves to build the soccer stadiums, only to say that the US is too bad for them to deal with... You know things are getting rough.

[–] luciferofastora@feddit.org 11 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Didn't watch Qatar either. Breaks my heart a little more every time I think about all the shit FIFA is endorsing, because I used to love watching world cups, but the more I become aware of the sheer corruption around it, the more it taints those sweet memories with a bitter aftertaste.

Why the fuck does greed have to ruin everything.

Didn't watch either but honestly most people don't care enough to stomach even a little pain.

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[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 days ago

I don't follow soccer (can you tell?) so I didn't know anything about that.

this quote stands out to me:

He's one of what Qatari authorities say is hundreds — and human rights investigators say is thousands — of World Cup workers who died there.

...if the Qatari authorities are admitting to hundreds of dead workers, you know something is up, because that number is already too high

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/02/1140260086/the-world-cup-has-taken-a-toll-on-the-migrant-workers-who-made-it-possible

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[–] BoycottTwitter@lemmy.zip 54 points 5 days ago (3 children)

I really hope the stadiums are totally empty. We must not repeat the mistakes of the 1936 Olympics. Boycott the world cup and also boycott all their sponsors and advertisers and demand they pull their ads and stop funding FIFA which is a totally corrupt organization.

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 15 points 4 days ago

In a just world, this party would be considered so radioactive it would be Business 101 to lock the door in their face and make sure it's VERY clear you'd never serve their interests. To deal with them at all should risk being marked a traitor and shunned.

Anybody who identifies with these bullies and thugs needs to have the privilege of watching that little red line plummet in real time.

[–] Bullerfar@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

Or FIFA Russia 2018.. (after the Krim annexation.)

[–] tessa@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 days ago

No one should come here and it's not safe for you anyway. Please boycott us.

[–] Bullerfar@lemmy.world 28 points 4 days ago (1 children)

If People from outsite us seriously are attending this event, I loose all hope in humanity. Attending in Mexico or Canada is fine. But don't cross any boarders to the usa.

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 37 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Just like all the events with the Saudis, in Qatar, the Winter Olympics in Russia, etc.

Rich people will attend no matter what.

[–] Zexks@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Not just rich people. The world cup in quatar proved that.

[–] reddit_sux@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Qatar World Cup could be considered different as it was not being overtly anti tourist even though there were restrictions on them. They were welcoming as opposed to whatever US is trying to do.

[–] Zexks@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Its not about how they treated the guests.

[–] reddit_sux@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago
[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 66 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The teams should boycott.
Begin with Spain and Brazil.

[–] demonsword@lemmy.world 29 points 5 days ago (1 children)

and Brazil

Yeah, we should, but money talks :(

[–] stylusmobilus@aussie.zone 20 points 5 days ago (3 children)

So does being locked out of international tournaments.

That said, if the six or seven really big footballing associations did, that’d fuck the whole tournament. That’d probably work to some degree.

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[–] obinice@lemmy.world 8 points 3 days ago

We're a bit ahead of schedule if we're trying to repeat the past 100 years on, no?

The Berlin Olympics weren't until 1936, we've got another 10 years still!

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 35 points 5 days ago

FIFA is getting a lot of good out of that peace prize.

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 26 points 5 days ago

It's not that I'm boycotting FIFA as much as I'm just not going to the US because I'm not a self-destructive idiot with a death wish.

[–] danc4498@lemmy.world 34 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I would be genuinely shocked if FIFA notices or feels any impact. Qatar was a huge success for them regardless of their country’s issues.

[–] UnspecificGravity@piefed.social 18 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (7 children)

I mean Qatar was not actively attacking locations that were hosting games nor was it actively arresting all foreigners in their country for the crime of being in their country.

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[–] felixthecat@fedia.io 2 points 3 days ago

Yep. If people didn't boycott for literal slavery and terrible working conditions used to build the stadium in Qatar they won't boycott the USA.

[–] sness@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 days ago

Should boycott everything FIFA anyway.

[–] Etterra@discuss.online 32 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Save yourselves, don't visit America. We may have to live in hell but you don't have to.

[–] unnamed1@feddit.org 11 points 5 days ago

Many cool Americans I knew were so proud and patriotic in the past. Reality has flipped. Stay strong. you live in a place that’s so scary it makes me try to protect myself at the other side on the globe. :( It’s bitter

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 13 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I live in one of the most popular tourist spots in the world, and I don't know why anyone from any country would visit America right now. It's a big world, go somewhere nice.

Hell if you want to go to a dictatorship fucking turkey is right there. Go see the remains of the Tomb of Halicarnassus, explore Istanbul, check out the ruins of the ancient Hittites. Better than pissing about New York or getting mauled by Death Valley if you're German.

[–] SwingingTheLamp@piefed.zip 15 points 5 days ago

"FIFA PASS" to fast-track visas? Sounds like a convenient cover story for terrorists to get in easily.

/s

[–] itisileclerk@lemmy.world 15 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

World Cup in Mexico and Canada. Kick USA out, they don't understand Football and will terrorize fans.

Edit: They didn't stop Nazi Germany to host Olympic games in 1936, it is not too late to stop USA to host World Cup and Olympic games while nazis are in power.

[–] lechekaflan@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

No sports but war instead, unfortunately.

[–] Lemmyoutofhere@lemmy.ca 14 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Don’t boycott the whole thing, just attend events in Canada and Mexico only.

[–] Swemg@lemmy.world 67 points 5 days ago (2 children)

You should always boycott the FIFA World cup

[–] Hideakikarate@sh.itjust.works 21 points 5 days ago (1 children)

They were/are kissing Trump's ass enough. Can't forget the first (and likely only) FIFA Peace Prize, or when the FIFA big-wig let him hold the trophy like some sycophantic Make-a-Wish.

[–] Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works 13 points 5 days ago

Hold it? He kept it.

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