Exploiting the Beautiful Game: Sportswashing at the World Cup

By: Alexander Smith

President Donald Trump holds the FIFA World Cup Winners Trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looks on during an announcement in the Oval Office of the White House, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Summary:

Three North American countries hosted the 2026 World Cup: The United States (U.S.), Canada, and Mexico. Fans traveled globally to support their teams, filling stadiums seating 40,000 to 80,000 people. This quadrennial soccer tournament, with its 48 qualifying international soccer teams, engages nearly five billion people worldwide. Historically, the World Cup has showcased globalization and cultural exchange. The 2026 event was no different.

In the U.S. alone, over 40% of World Cup viewers were people of color. After the 2026 World Cup, the tournament’s popularity in the U.S. is projected to climb. The players were the most diverse group in World Cup history, and nearly a quarter of them were “born outside the country they represent.” These markers suggest that the tournament bridged geopolitical fractures. However, the U.S., a country currently mired in immigration crackdowns, systemic racism, and war with participating Iran, hosted most of the 2026 World Cup games. In the U.S., the World Cup’s global character clashed with the isolationist and racist context.

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