Removing US as World Cup host would be eminently sad – and entirely justified | Alexander Abnos

Hosting the World Cup Would Be a Nightmare - and a Necessary Measure

Removing the United States from hosting the 2026 World Cup would be an unfortunate but justified decision. For millions of soccer fans across the country, the tournament is more than just a sporting event – it's a chance to see their favorite teams in action in their hometowns or nearby cities. However, with rising ticket prices cutting out grassroots enthusiasts, onerous demands on cities siphoning public money, and a nation plagued by federal violence, safety, justice, and freedom being under threat, it's hard to justify the event.

The reality is that the United States is not an ideal host country at this time. Under Donald Trump's administration, foreign leaders have been detained or intimidated, human rights abuses have increased, and the rule of law has been undermined. Hosting a global event like the World Cup in such conditions would be akin to sending a mixed message – one of peace and unity, but also of division, intolerance, and disregard for basic human rights.

As fans, journalists, and citizens, we must acknowledge that our enthusiasm for soccer should not blind us to the broader social issues plaguing our country. We need to recognize that the World Cup is not just about football; it's a platform for global expression, unity, and celebration of our shared humanity.

The question remains: what can be done? Some have suggested boycotting the tournament or moving it to other countries. While these options are difficult to implement, they might force FIFA to reconsider its stance and prioritize safety, security, and human rights over profit. As soccer leaders like Concacaf president Victor Montagliani pointed out, "football is bigger than them" – the current administration's policies.

However, the reality on the ground is that the World Cup is already being politicized by those in power. Trump himself has suggested moving matches to safer cities or even relocating the tournament entirely if necessary. This would be a far more drastic measure but might be the only way to ensure the event can be held without compromising its values.

Ultimately, hosting the World Cup should not be about national pride or economic gain; it's about promoting peace, unity, and respect for human rights. If that means removing ourselves from the equation altogether, so be it. As fans and as a society, we must prioritize our shared values over short-term gains – even if it means missing out on an event that could have been a dream come true.
 
🤕 this is just crazy how the US government can ruin everything 🚫 FIFA needs to think twice before hosting the World Cup here in 2026... all these problems like violence and human rights abuses arent gonna make for a good time 😳
 
I don't think hosting the World Cup in the US is a good idea right now 🤔. I mean, the country's got some serious issues going on - police brutality, corruption, and all that jazz 😔. It's not exactly the vibe you want to send out to the rest of the world when they're coming to watch a game. And let's be real, ticket prices are already super steep 🤑. I get it, it'll be awesome for soccer fans, but what about the regular folks who can't afford to go? It feels like FIFA is more worried about making money than making sure people have a good time 🤑💸.

And on top of that, Trump's administration has been super divisive 🤷‍♀️. I mean, come on, detaining foreign leaders and whatnot? That's not exactly the kind of message you want to send out when you're hosting a global event like this. It feels like they're more interested in scoring points with their own base than being a good host country 😒.

I guess what I'm saying is that maybe it's better if we just skip the US for now 🙅‍♂️. I know some people will be bummed, but honestly, I think the World Cup could be way more enjoyable and safe in another country 🌎💕.
 
🤔 hosting the world cup would be super stressful for the us right now. I mean think about it, we've got so many issues going on like gun violence and police brutality...it's hard to imagine how safe it would be for fans to attend matches in cities like los angeles or new york. plus there are just so many people who can't afford tickets which is a total shame because soccer is meant to be for everyone not just the wealthy. i'm not saying we should never host the world cup but if we're gonna do it then we need to make sure it's safe and accessible for all not just some rich folks. 🏟️
 
US hosting World Cup? More like US hosting chaos 😱🏟️. Can't just ignore human rights abuses & safety concerns for the sake of a game ⚽💔. Need to prioritize what really matters – people over profits 🤑.
 
I'm kinda surprised I'm commenting on this now lol 2 years later... but yeah, I totally get where the author is coming from 🤔. I mean, as much as I love the US and all, we do have some major issues right now that make it hard to host a big event like the World Cup without, you know, compromising our values 💸. And I agree with Victor Montagliani - football really should be about more than just profit 🏈.

It's crazy how much energy and resources go into hosting an event like this, but not all of that money is necessarily going to grassroots programs or supporting local communities 🤷‍♂️. We need to prioritize our people over our pride (or whatever) 💕.

And yeah, the fact that Trump has suggested moving matches around because of safety concerns just goes to show how bad things are here 😬. I'm not saying we can't host the World Cup at all, but like, maybe it's time for FIFA and the rest to take a hard look at what they're really getting themselves into 🤓.
 
🤔 I'm kinda with this article...Hosting the World Cup in the US right now feels like a recipe for disaster 🚨. I mean, we've got some major issues going on here - racism, police brutality, and whatnot. It's hard to ignore that when it comes to something as big as the World Cup. And yeah, the ticket prices are out of control...I mean who can afford to go watch a game in the States right now? 🤑 Not exactly the most grassroots thing going on. Plus, with Trump in office, you're kinda getting mixed messages about what's important - is it national pride or human rights? 🤷‍♂️
 
🤔 The US isn't exactly in the best shape right now 🤕 - let's look at some stats! 📊

Crime rates are up 10% since 2020, and violent crime is increasing faster 🚨. With over 1.3 million people incarcerated, it's no wonder that federal violence is a major concern 😱.

The country has the highest number of gun owners in the world 🎯, with over 120 million firearms in circulation. This has led to a staggering 39,000 gun-related deaths per year 🤯.

Meanwhile, ticket prices for the World Cup are soaring ⬆️ - we're talking $5,000+ for a single ticket! That's pricing out grassroots fans and putting the focus on corporate sponsors 💸.

FIFA is projected to lose $2 billion due to COVID-19, but that's just a drop in the bucket compared to the country's economic woes 📈. With a GDP of over $22 trillion, it's hard to justify the expense of hosting an event that could be seen as tone-deaf 💔.

The human rights situation is also concerning - 1 in 5 prisoners in the US are held without bail, and the recidivism rate for felony offenders is a whopping 76% 🚫. It's time to rethink our priorities and put the focus on safety, security, and human rights over profit 💖.
 
I'm all about keeping the US safe, but hosting the World Cup at this time is just gonna be a huge headache 🤯. I mean, think about all the fans who can't afford to get tickets and are super stoked to see their fave teams play, but then they're stuck paying $500+ for a ticket and dealing with the hassle of traveling to a new city. And let's not even get started on how cities have to shell out public cash just to host the event... it's just not right 💸.

And honestly, who knows what kind of vibes Trump is gonna bring to the party? I'm all for celebrating our global community and unity through sports, but with the state of our country right now, it feels like we're sending a mixed message 🤔. It's time for us as fans and as a nation to think about what's really important here – promoting peace, respect, and human rights over just having a cool event 😊. Maybe we should just take a step back and wait till things calm down before even thinking about hosting it again?
 
I don’t usually comment but I think the writer has a point 🤔. Hosting the World Cup sounds like a total nightmare right now 😩. I mean, we're talking about a country with some serious issues going on - violence, human rights abuses... it's just not the right time to be putting all these eyes on us 👀. And yeah, the ticket prices are already killing grassroots enthusiasts 🤑. But at the same time, you can't blame FIFA for being cautious either. I think moving the tournament or even boycotting it might be a bit extreme 🚫, but I get what they're saying - we gotta prioritize our values over national pride 💖. It's just one of those situations where you wish there was a better way to do things 🤷‍♀️
 
🤕 I'm kinda with this idea... hosting the World Cup in the US right now is like trying to organize a massive rave during a heatwave - too much chaos 🌀. The safety and human rights issues are major red flags, you know? 😬 Like, what's more important, football or freedom of speech? 🤔 And let's be real, with ticket prices being outrageous, only the rich can afford to enjoy the game... meanwhile, the grassroots fans get cut out 👎. The US is not in a good place right now, and hosting a major event like the World Cup could make things worse 😕. Maybe it's better for FIFA to find a new host or postpone until the country gets its act together 🙏. I mean, football is amazing, but human rights are more important 💖!
 
I gotta say 🤔, hosting the World Cup in the US right now is like trying to balance a seesaw... you gotta weigh the excitement of the game against the bigger picture. I mean, we love our soccer, but our country's got some major issues that need addressing. Safety concerns, human rights abuses... it's hard to justify having a huge event when our own people are struggling 🤕. Some folks might say boycott the tournament or move it elsewhere, but I think that's just kicking the can down the road 🙅‍♂️. We need to have a harder conversation about what hosting the World Cup really means and whether it's worth compromising our values for the sake of a good game 🏆.
 
🤯 I'm low-key surprised FIFA's thinking about ditching the US from hosting the 2026 World Cup 🙅‍♂️. But, tbh, with all the drama and violence going on in the country, it's not hard to see why they'd want to reconsider 🤕. I mean, we can't just ignore the fact that our leaders are being super divisive and human rights are being trampled 🚫. As fans, we love our soccer, but we gotta prioritize what's more important – safety, unity, and basic human decency 💖. And honestly, if it means moving the tournament to a safer place or even boycotting altogether, so be it 🤷‍♂️. The US might not be ready for this big stage just yet 😬.
 
The US hosting the 2026 World Cup is like trying to put a Band-Aid on a broken leg 🤕. It's just not worth it, you know? I mean, millions of people are worried about their safety and freedom, and we're still debating whether or not to host this massive event? It's time for FIFA to think about what's really important here – the fans, the players, and the values that make soccer great in the first place 🏆.

And honestly, it's a bit sad that we need to consider boycotting the tournament just because of the current state of politics 🤷‍♀️. I get that it's not ideal, but can't we just focus on making sure everyone has access to the event without breaking the bank or compromising our values? It feels like FIFA is trying to outdo itself in terms of how many dollars and cents are at stake 💸.

I'm all for celebrating soccer and bringing people together, but let's not forget that there's more to life than just a game ⚽️. We need to prioritize what really matters – human rights, safety, and peace. Maybe it's time for us to rethink our priorities and put the values of football above all else 💖.
 
idk why they need to remove us tho 🤷‍♂️... i mean, i get what the author is saying about safety and human rights but like, can't we just make sure everyone's safe & happy at the same time? 🤔... i was watching this new netflix show with my friends and we were all talking about how much we love soccer... sorry to say it but ticket prices are getting out of control 😩... what do you think we should do if we can't host it? 🤗 maybe we could just have a mini tournament in our backyard? 🌳😂
 
I'm so torn about this 🤯... I mean, who doesn't love the World Cup? 😊 But at the same time, with all the issues America's dealing with right now - from police brutality to inequality... it's just not the best idea to put a huge event like that in the middle of all this chaos. I get that some fans might be really disappointed, but let's be real, there are bigger fish to fry here 🐟. It's time for us to take a step back and think about what's truly important: people over profits 🤑. Maybe moving it to another country is a good idea? Or just having a smaller, more low-key version of the tournament? Whatever happens, I just hope we can all agree on one thing - that human rights should always come first 💕.
 
🏟️ I'm all for boycotting the World Cup but like, have you thought of how that's gonna affect the devs who work hard for the tournament? They'll lose their jobs & it's not fair to them 🤕. Maybe FIFA should just move it to a neutral country like Australia or Singapore? That way everyone wins! 🏴
 
I'm not sure about this one 🤔. The US has hosted the World Cup like 4 times before and it's not like things are gonna get worse just because of Trump 😒. I mean, we've got our issues with racism and inequality but that doesn't mean we can't host a major sporting event without any problems. Plus, think about all the jobs and tourism revenue that would be lost if we bailed 🤑. But at the same time, I get what the writer is saying - we need to prioritize human rights and safety over profits 💪. It's just not that easy, you know? Maybe FIFA should reconsider their stance or find a compromise but completely removing us from the equation seems like an overreaction 🙅‍♂️. What do others think?
 
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