I remember watching the 2014 FIFA World Cup final between Germany and Argentina, hanging off the edge of my couch, watching a grueling, almost 120-minute match between the two teams. Finally, around the 113th minute, Mario Götze scored Germany’s goal: I jumped up, screaming and cheering. I knew I had just witnessed a historic match, with this having been Germany’s first World Cup win since reunification.
Growing up in the Midwest, I played soccer for most of my childhood through high school. I played striker on the left and right wings, as well as attacking midfielder at times. Soccer has been ingrained in my life, as a player and spectator, whether on TV or in person, like the Bayern Munich v. AC Milan match at Soldier Field in 2016 and the 2018 Tournament of Nations in Bridgeview, Illinois.
So why does this World Cup feel different? With the global rise of fascism that has taken place since 2016, the morale for the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) for U.S. fans has been mixed. And with the reelection of Donald Trump and the men’s team openly associating with the Trump regime, it’s a no-brainer why so many on the left, like myself, or the average American are rooting for teams that aren’t the United States.
“The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share of the rewards. It’s the way I see football, the way I see life.”
— Bill Shankly, Legendary Liverpool FC manager & Scottish football player
Let’s start with the bad and the ugly of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The matches are played across three countries (Canada, Mexico, and the United States), which are also co-hosting the tournament. There are 48 teams from all over the globe. Some countries, like Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, are making their debuts, while countries like Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo are returning after long absences. You can feel the excitement for the tournament from countries in the Global South that have been oppressed by the U.S. and through other forms of Western imperialism. And while Israel and the UAE did not qualify this year, they are still part of FIFA, which has led to protests against the killing of Palestinian athletes by the Zionist State. Fans have also criticized ties between UAE businesses and FIFA, including ADI Predictstreet’s partnership with the World Cup.
However, with the U.S. being one of the co-hosts, we as fans and leftists have seen U.S. hypocrisy on full display. First, with ICE at airports harassing players and fans alike, with players like Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein being interrogated for seven hours while the team’s photographer was denied entry at O’Hare. FIFA official Omar Artan, a Somali national and referee, was also denied entry and held for 10 hours. Artan said no real explanation was given despite him having the proper documentation. A White House official stated that his detention was due to “affiliations” with terrorist organizations, but did not provide evidence for this claim. Meanwhile, the Iranian national team also has restrictions when playing in the U.S. venues, with same-day arrival and departure requirements to return to their home base in Mexico, having been denied permission to stay overnight in this country.
Other World Cup controversies include climate change, labor, ticket pricing, and even Haiti’s national uniform having to be changed to avoid sending a “political message” celebrating the Haitian Revolution. Labor disputes have been present in all three host countries, but they have been particularly acute at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where Unite Here! Local 11 asked FIFA to bar ICE from the stadium due to the safety concerns for the workers. The union was prepared to strike before FIFA agreed to the deal on June 8th. Finally, the ticket pricing for the matches raised additional controversy. FIFA said they would use dynamic pricing for this particular World Cup, despite fans’ anger and dismay at the decision. Both Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called this out.
Despite these injustices and controversies, soccer has shown international solidarity in one of the world’s biggest sporting events. Our first stop is John Brown’s old stomping ground of Lawrence, Kansas, where the Algerian national team has chosen to make their home base during the Cup. A clip circulated online of an American man being asked why he supported Algeria, and he responded because the team “chose” Lawrence to host them. Since then, there have been cultural exchanges, bar meet-ups, and even the Lawrence youth getting to practice with the Algerian team at the Jayhawks’ Rock Chalk Park.
Our next stop is in Canada with the Bosnian national team, featuring players like Edin Džeko, who was 6 years old when the Siege of Sarajevo began. Džeko, on June 11th, wrote an open letter about why this Cup means so much to him. One quote that stuck with me was Džeko saying that when he sees wars happening today, he feels sick and that “…For some reason, adults never learn.” The Bosnian fans have also shown their support for Palestine, waving Palestinian flags and chanting for Palestine in the streets of Toronto.
Our final stop is Boston, where Scottish fans have flooded the city. This is the dreaded Gaelic alliance (Bostonians, Irish, and Scottish fans descending on a single city) that Unionists and Tories in the colonial United Kingdom would have nightmares over. The Scots discover the infamous ‘Cop Slide’ in Boston, which became a viral meme after a police officer sustained minor injuries on it in 2023. A Scottish fan rode the slide, playing the bagpipes on the way down. Seeing these teams being embraced by the average American has given me hope for a better world, and that something like soccer can show international solidarity.
What does this World Cup mean for international solidarity? It shows the U.S. (& Western) hypocrisy when it comes to labor, immigration, and other issues like climate change. But it also shows that no matter where one comes from and what atrocities they have faced growing up, there is a chance to show their nation and culture on a world stage unlike any other. And understanding the common bonds of basic humanity, from the players to fans.
For myself, I’m rooting for everyone other than America: Algeria, Bosnia, Colombia, the DRC, Haiti, Germany, Iraq, Iran, Scotland, and Turkey.* I love underdog stories; what can I say?
*Updates on the teams have been eliminated since the Cup started: Bosnia, DRC, Haiti, Germany, Iraq, Iran, Scotland, and Turkey.
