Politically Charged: How the Tumultuous Global Atmosphere Has Impacted Soccer and Its Fans
Soccer might work as a refuge for fans seeking distraction from their work and personal lives. Nevertheless, soccer is not immune to the reality that envelopes everyday experiences. Governmental tensions, social crises, and armed conflicts all affect soccer in more than one way. This year, with the FIFA World Cup in sight, soccer has been at the center of political discussions and protests, often used as a tool to broadly communicate a particular point of view. It certainly does not help that the world is not going through its most peaceful moments; new immigration laws in America, an armed conflict in Gaza, interventions in Venezuela, and threats towards Danish sovereignty, among others, have charged the playing field with sentiment beyond just the game itself.
Earlier this year, an executive member of the German Football Association proposed a boycott of the World Cup after the US declarations against Danish sovereignty were made. At that time, it was Oke Göttlich, the president of St. Pauli, a Bundesliga club team, who questioned Germany’s participation in the World Cup, given the current events. His statements appeared in several media outlets; however, they seemed to have had no serious impact on any German soccer team, that is, until now. Just two days ago, German Bundesliga club Werder Bremen cancelled their travel plans to the US following the shootings by federal law enforcement, which resulted in the death of two American citizens. The team was scheduled to play in Minneapolis this upcoming May, but the journey no longer aligns with their team values. The team also questions whether all their players would have been able to enter the US, given the new visa restrictions imposed in January.
It has been over two years since the armed conflict in Gaza escalated, causing thousands of deaths and massive destruction of infrastructure. In the meantime, FIFA plans to donate 50 million dollars to build a new stadium in Gaza with a capacity of between 20,000 and 25,000 people. In addition, FIFA plans to build a soccer academy and surrounding mini-pitches for the public. All this for a nation that does not have a national soccer team. The project has been widely criticized for not prioritizing basic necessities for the Palestinian people, whose everyday utilities, such as electricity, sewage, and housing, have been severely affected by the war. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has not tried to stay away from politics; the executive is known for maintaining a close relationship with President Donald Trump, who was awarded the FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025. Given that Infantino’s project was presented at President Trump’s Board of Peace Launch, the International Olympic Committee is now ‘looking’ into the event to ensure there was no infringement of political interests.
It seems like no league escapes the current tense political atmosphere; in the Premier League, Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe apologized after declaring that the UK had been colonized by immigrants. In Mexico, a group of protesters played soccer with balls that resembled President Donald Trump’s face, in an effort to speak against the gentrification of soccer brought by the FIFA World Cup. As much as soccer tries to separate itself from the world surrounding it, unfortunately, it does not exist in a bubble untouched by societal conflicts. Fans can only hope that, amidst the conflicts, the essence of soccer is not lost to politics.
