To think the World Cup should be cancelled now?

[AnnaQuayRules]

Apologies if there's already a thread but I've looked and can't find one.

The (mens) Football World Cup starts in June, in the USA. Surely it shouldn't go ahead? Iran is one of the qualifying countries!

I can't see how the tournament should or could go ahead. AIBU?

I’m interested too. I just saw the Iranian women’s team not singing the national anthem and not excluded from playing. Brave women they are.

Just out of interest, why do you think Canada's "compulsory gendery theology" will impact the World Cup, please?

FIFA is a corrupt organisation and I don’t like football. I do feel sorry for the genuine fans given the costs of tickets and the hassle/faff/risks of travel to America. Suspect it won’t go down as a successful World Cup (DT will obvs claim otherwise) but I’d ignore it… no way it will be cancelled.

Iran have already pulled out of the tournament, replacement TBD.

Iraq or UAE the most likely replacements.

No i need something to look forward to!

Because without everything that's happened in the last few days it wouldn't have been?

Believe me, every major event for decades (Olympics, World Cup, Queen's funeral, Festivals, London Marathon etc etc) has massive anti terror protection built in. For every successful attack, many are detected and prevented beforehand.

FIFA doesn’t care. The countries sending teams don’t care.

no one did anything when a woman from Mexico’s delegation was criminally charged for being raped in Qatar. The best that could be arranged was she lost her career and was quickly allowed to leave the country without receiving punishment. The event was not cancelled. No countries protested. No participants took a stand. Nothing.

I used to love the World Cup. I dreamt of attending a game growing up. One of my best memories in life is sitting right behind the goal at the Rose Bowl as the U.S. beat China. The power of those players and the joy they felt was infectious.

They will be playing again near me. So near me it is ridiculous. I can’t bring myself to go. The entire thing is tainted.

They won’t do anything about the war. There will be security measures and immediate safety likely won’t be an issue. This country knows how to stage big events. It won’t surprise me though if fans from many countries are denied entry to the U.S.

Well, me too!

They are indeed. Like so many women (and men) who've suffered under the Islamist regime

This. The U.S is a safe country with great security.
If Iran don't play, they don't play 🤷‍♂️

I can recall the 1972 Olympics 😭

So shocking.

Nor should it be. If it was being played in the ME then it would be understandable to cancel it.

Me too.

Trump will be desperate for Iran to play as a "free nation"

The exiled prince lives in a America doesnt he. Trump will want him at an Iran game.

Um, the 2026 World Cup is being jointly hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico, although USA is hosting the majority of the games (78, 13 and 13 respectively).

There are already worries about the recent gang violence in Mexico impacting the games - the home town (Guadalajara) of the killed cartel leader is supposed to host 4 matches I think, and violence has been bad there.

Also why cancel it? England has the stadiums to host it tomorrow so i would just suggest a change in venue.

Never in the world though would FIFA pull the plug on it happening in America.

I mean, it’s still 3 months away so could still get cancelled? No need to make a decision on it now, it’s hardly as pressing as trying to sort out flights for people stuck in the region.

This.

IMO it should be cancelled regardless of unrest in the Middle East.

Far too much time and money is spent on groups of 22 men kicking a bag of wind around.

Fifa gave Trump the Peace Prize

They are as corrupt as him (just look at the ticket prizes), they are not going to cancel.

England has the stadiums to host it tomorrow

But hardly the infrastructure.

“Everywhere in the US” is not going to be a target for terrorist attacks. 😂 Terrorists are drawn to large or important places so they can make a big statement and have high causalities. Right now I’m sitting in a TJMaxx parking lot in a Midwestern state and I’m more “afraid” of a student driver sideswiping my car than anything else.

Some of you have just the goofiest ideas about the level of risk everyday Americans are living with. It’s a geographically massive country encompassing everything from cities with high crime rates to small towns where the local cops haven’t dealt with a homicide since Bush was in office. And by “Bush,” I mean the elder one who came after Reagan.

Thanks, @YankSplaining . Gives a sense of proportion.