Why I'm skipping the World Cup

      The upcoming World Cup is already an unmitigated disaster. You could even remove Trump from the equation and it would still be the worst World Cup ever. And remember the last world cup had to moved on the calendar because of the obscene and ridiculous host nation. The World Cup before that was in fucking Russia. So of course things were only going to get worse.

      But worse is really bad. Over the line bad. I cannot condone this anymore bad. From Trump Trumping all over it, to the unneeded expansion, to the incredibly stupid multi-host format, this World Cup is just something I can no longer support. For the next World Cup, at least one of these problems becomes an absolutely ridiculous proposition that angers me to the point of laptop defenestration to even think about it. I’ll let you go look up the 2030 World Cup and for yourself.

      The split host nation thing is such a travesty. It takes away even having a host nation. No country can bring their culture and who they are to a tournament anymore, I attended the 94 World Cup and it helped seed the soccer fan that I am now. It was great watching matched that between teams that aren’t that good and that might be far away from the host nation be packed in the US. Because wherever you are form, the US has an immigrant population from there and they will come out to support their home nation. Cape Verde had better play in Boston (Foxborough, I am so sorry everyone)! We have a great group of immigrants, and their descendants, from Cape Verde. Assuming the tournament was not at it’s most corrupt level ever and ticket prices were reasonable, or in any way rational, the game could feel like a home game for Cape Verde. Not only would they be a small and awesome underdog story, but they’d had fan support like one of the big nations.

      The fun things that make Canada special also get watered down, because they only host a handful of matches. Sure, maybe Canada is not equipped to host the entire WC on their own, and tossing them a few matches would be special, but this is where the three nation thing ruins it all. Instead of sharing a few matches with Toronto and Vancouver, the tournament is spread around a rather large continent.

      The real problem with the split hosts, this time around, is the complete and utter disrespect being shown to Mexico. While Canada might not be into the game as much as a host needs to be, Mexico absolutely is. Even in 2025, the US is still chasing Mexico in the game. Their league is better, their players are better, and their fans are better. They love the game more than the US does, more than US can right now.

      A prime example of this disrespect is shown by looking at Boston vs Mexico City. Boston is hosting 7 matches to Mexico City’s 5. This makes no sense to me as a soccer fan who grew up in the suburbs of Boston. Boston’s international status and global hub for education make it a great soccer town. but compared to Mexico City it is 2nd tier. I love Boston. The Portuguese and Brazilian immigrants, and their kids, that I grew up with helped me learn to love this game. It still cannot compete or compare to Mexico City.

      Then there was the level of disrespect that hit a point which caused me to write this. The televised Draw (in the US) had zero big name people from Mexico. As if there were zero famous people from Mexico that Americans might know, nevermind zero Mexican athletes. What the ever corrupt fuck? Gretzky is there, Tom Brady is there, can we get Julio César Chávez? Because any famous athlete will do. Why even have Mexico as a host If we aren’t even going to lean into and embrace their love of the game? Why didn’t Mexico hold out their bribe to host on their own? This world Cup would be made instantly better if the US or Mexico weren’t involved, because each country deserves to host it on their own.

      Fuck Trump, always and forever. Fuck every that encourages him, supports him, or is any way involved with him. But for right now Fuck Trump for trying to make this World Cup about him. I know that’s his thing. I know that it is what Nazis do, they appropriate things that aren’t theirs and call them theirs. But can’t he be a typical American just this once and ignore Soccer? So why should I, a huge soccer fan from Boston risk buying tickets to games that a massive piece of shit can yank from my city because we justifiably hate him? Why would I buy tickets when ICE might arrest players from one of the teams? Or Customs decides to not let one of the teams into the country? From a strictly pragmatic point of view it is not worth the risk to buy a ticket to a sporting event that might not even take place.

      Expanding the tournament was a huge mistake. Sure Cape Verde is a great story, but it is manufactured. Forty eight teams is just too many. It takes away from the qualification. It takes away from the best of the best of the tournament. If we are trying to figure out who the best is at something, then you need to invite everyone or just those that might be actually be the best. Expanding tournaments without a thought of “do these extra teams have a chance to win” is an insult to the tournament. The FA Cup works because it is just everyone. No BS, just wide open. In theory, again expansion crap, the Champion’s League is just the best of the best. When you over expand it is clear that it is a cash grab. It insults the underdogs as much as it does the actual contenders.

      Haiti going is a great story, but it’s artificial. They are lambs being sent to the slaughter and FIFA is going to milk their “we’re just happy to be here” story as they get crushed in three straight games. How is that better for Haiti or anyone else competing. It just means some big European or South American country is going to have an easier group stage and nearly guaranteed entry to the knock-out stage. When the US went 0-3, scoring only 1 goal, they earned their embarrassment. They were supposed to do better and should have done better. In 94 and 02 they did do better. This is the kind of last place in the group stage stories we want. Not the utter destruction of a team not ready for Prime Time. Picking on the little guys does not feel good, but a big name failing is an interesting story. Italy not qualifying for the previous two World Cups was crazy. Expansion means they did not need to do the deep soul searching they need to be respected in the football world again., They have an easier path, an underserved second chance. This is my issue with expansion, it just ends up helping the big boys.

      Yeah, so I am out. I am not going to attend a single World Cup match even though there will be seven matches played an hour away from me, If you told me this at any point since 1994 I would not believe you. But if you showed me this rant, I would nod my head along to every single word. Fuck FIFA, Fuck Trump, and Fuck Gianni Infantino. Fuck them all for ruining something that used to be fun and special. I assure you now that there will be a massive match fixing scandal involved here. There is just far too much corruption for it to not happen.

      I confess, I’m going to watch it, but that’s it. It will be no different as if the tournament was being held is a foreign country. They get none of my money directly. I love the game and this tournament too much. I can’t go cold turkey here, but they get no benefit from hosting it because of FIFA’s abject and disgusting corruption. Every football fan in the world deserves better.