Official road to World Cup 2026 Thread
England v Spain world cup final?
England will find a way to not make the Final
.....
Nigeria pulling it out of their ass again. Feel bad for Gabon.
One game away
Why did they do that to Haiti?
US World Cup Boycotts Grow as Trump Threatens Mexico
By Aliss Higham
January 9, 2026
www.newsweek.com
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.
Newsweek reached out to FIFA for comment via email.
While there have been some World Cup boycott pushes in recent months, some over the cost of tickets, there are now renewed calls due to growing unrest, immigration fears, and the Trump administration's moves on the international stage—including President Donald Trump saying on Thursday night that the U.S. is “going to start now hitting land” and targeting drug cartels "running Mexico." Mexico is a co-host of the upcoming games...
By Aliss Higham
January 9, 2026
US World Cup boycotts grow as Trump threatens Mexico
"I cancelled my World Cup tickets," one social media user wrote. "The ICE may decide that I am a gang member."
www.newsweek.com
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.
Newsweek reached out to FIFA for comment via email.
While there have been some World Cup boycott pushes in recent months, some over the cost of tickets, there are now renewed calls due to growing unrest, immigration fears, and the Trump administration's moves on the international stage—including President Donald Trump saying on Thursday night that the U.S. is “going to start now hitting land” and targeting drug cartels "running Mexico." Mexico is a co-host of the upcoming games...
Trump travel ban leaves Senegal and Ivory Coast fans in limbo for World Cup
BY CIARÁN FAHEY
January 13, 2026
apnews.com
Fans of two of Africa’s top soccer nations have had their World Cup plans upended because of a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration.
Senegal and Ivory Coast were added in December to the list of countries with partial restrictions on entry to the United States, which is co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with Canada and Mexico.
Fans cheering for the two West African teams at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco were dismayed by the restrictions, which effectively bar those who don’t already have visas from traveling to the U.S. to watch the World Cup.
“I don’t know why the American president would want teams from certain countries not to take part. If that’s the case, they shouldn’t agree to host the World Cup,” Senegal supporter Djibril Gueye told The Associated Press in Tangier, Morocco...
BY CIARÁN FAHEY
January 13, 2026
Trump travel ban leaves Senegal and Ivory Coast fans in limbo for World Cup
Senegal and Ivory Coast fans who want to support their teams at the World Cup this summer have had their plans upended because of a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration.
apnews.com
Fans of two of Africa’s top soccer nations have had their World Cup plans upended because of a travel ban imposed by the Trump administration.
Senegal and Ivory Coast were added in December to the list of countries with partial restrictions on entry to the United States, which is co-hosting the June 11-July 19 tournament with Canada and Mexico.
Fans cheering for the two West African teams at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco were dismayed by the restrictions, which effectively bar those who don’t already have visas from traveling to the U.S. to watch the World Cup.
“I don’t know why the American president would want teams from certain countries not to take part. If that’s the case, they shouldn’t agree to host the World Cup,” Senegal supporter Djibril Gueye told The Associated Press in Tangier, Morocco...
No, FIFA is not seeing 'mass cancellations' for the World Cup, despite viral reports, officials say
A FIFA spokesperson told WFAA the reports of mass ticket cancellations garnering millions of views on social media "have no validity at all."
Paul Livengood
January 14, 2026
www.wfaa.com
Viral reports that FIFA has called an emergency meeting amid mass cancellations of ticket applications have "no validity at all," a spokesperson told WFAA.
Numerous posts on X, each garnering millions of views, have reported varying levels of ticket cancellation statistics, claiming people are doing so in response to rising political tension in the U.S.
FIFA said that these claims are not only inaccurate reports with no substance, but doubled down saying that ticket application statistics set to be released Wednesday will further prove the opposite. The Random Selection Draw closed on Tuesday, and FIFA reported 500 million ticket requests were submitted in the 33-day window, marking a 15 million per day average.
“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand – it’s a global statement. On behalf of FIFA, I would like to thank and congratulate football fans everywhere for this extraordinary response,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino...
A FIFA spokesperson told WFAA the reports of mass ticket cancellations garnering millions of views on social media "have no validity at all."
Paul Livengood
January 14, 2026
No, FIFA is not seeing 'mass cancellations' for the World Cup, despite viral reports, officials say
A FIFA spokesperson told WFAA the reports of mass ticket cancellations garnering millions of views on social media "have no validity at all."
www.wfaa.com
Viral reports that FIFA has called an emergency meeting amid mass cancellations of ticket applications have "no validity at all," a spokesperson told WFAA.
Numerous posts on X, each garnering millions of views, have reported varying levels of ticket cancellation statistics, claiming people are doing so in response to rising political tension in the U.S.
FIFA said that these claims are not only inaccurate reports with no substance, but doubled down saying that ticket application statistics set to be released Wednesday will further prove the opposite. The Random Selection Draw closed on Tuesday, and FIFA reported 500 million ticket requests were submitted in the 33-day window, marking a 15 million per day average.
“Half a billion ticket requests in just over a month is more than demand – it’s a global statement. On behalf of FIFA, I would like to thank and congratulate football fans everywhere for this extraordinary response,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino...
World Cup war games: Counter-drones, cyberattacks and stadium ICE raids top US security concerns as FIFA comes to town
The U.S. is expecting at least 5 million international visitors, not to mention the millions of soccer fans at home, to be on the move during the six-week tournament
Graig Graziosi in Washington, D.C.
26 January 2026
www.independent.co.uk
…This once-in-a-generation opportunity also brings a nationwide, multifaceted rollout of security measures to prepare for potential threats ranging from drone incursions to cyberattacks.
However, some human rights advocates have expressed fears that the Trump administration will use law enforcement operations around the World Cup to target migrants as part of the White House’s aggressive deportation policy...
The U.S. is expecting at least 5 million international visitors, not to mention the millions of soccer fans at home, to be on the move during the six-week tournament
Graig Graziosi in Washington, D.C.
26 January 2026
World Cup war games: How the U.S. is clamping down on security as FIFA comes to town
The U.S. is expecting at least 5 million international visitors, not to mention the millions of soccer fans at home, to be on the move during the six-week tournament
www.independent.co.uk
…This once-in-a-generation opportunity also brings a nationwide, multifaceted rollout of security measures to prepare for potential threats ranging from drone incursions to cyberattacks.
However, some human rights advocates have expressed fears that the Trump administration will use law enforcement operations around the World Cup to target migrants as part of the White House’s aggressive deportation policy...
Fan group 'concerned' by ICE raids before World Cup
Fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) says it is "extremely concerned by the ongoing militarisation of police forces in the US" before this summer's World Cup in North America.
Dan Roan
Sports editor
January 30, 2026
www.bbc.com
It comes after two US citizens were shot dead by federal agents carrying out US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis over the past month.
US authorities have not ruled out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented immigrants at World Cup venues.
Ronan Evain, executive director of FSE, said: "At this stage, travelling fans are left with little to no information as to what will be allowed or not at Fifa venues, or what to expect from the police elsewhere in the country."
He said his organisation was also worried by "the complete absence of security doctrine from Fifa for the upcoming World Cup.
"There is no clarity as to what will be allowed in the stadiums, who will be deployed inside, which police forces will be working where."
Evain added "reports that the US has not yet invited visiting police delegations, or so-called spotters, which is unprecedented in the modern history of the tournament, only reinforce these concerns".
In response, Fifa told BBC Sport the safety and security of fans and participants was its "top priority", adding it works closely with local authorities "to plan, co-ordinate and deliver comprehensive security measures for the tournament"...
Fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) says it is "extremely concerned by the ongoing militarisation of police forces in the US" before this summer's World Cup in North America.
Dan Roan
Sports editor
January 30, 2026
2026 World Cup: Fan group 'extremely concerned' by ICE raids in US before summer tournament
Fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) says it is "extremely concerned by the ongoing militarisation of police forces in the US" before this summer's World Cup in North America.
www.bbc.com
It comes after two US citizens were shot dead by federal agents carrying out US President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in Minneapolis over the past month.
US authorities have not ruled out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented immigrants at World Cup venues.
Ronan Evain, executive director of FSE, said: "At this stage, travelling fans are left with little to no information as to what will be allowed or not at Fifa venues, or what to expect from the police elsewhere in the country."
He said his organisation was also worried by "the complete absence of security doctrine from Fifa for the upcoming World Cup.
"There is no clarity as to what will be allowed in the stadiums, who will be deployed inside, which police forces will be working where."
Evain added "reports that the US has not yet invited visiting police delegations, or so-called spotters, which is unprecedented in the modern history of the tournament, only reinforce these concerns".
In response, Fifa told BBC Sport the safety and security of fans and participants was its "top priority", adding it works closely with local authorities "to plan, co-ordinate and deliver comprehensive security measures for the tournament"...
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