Removing US as World Cup host would be eminently sad – and entirely justified | Alexander Abnos

The US is facing a difficult decision regarding its hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup. The country has been eager to host the tournament for over a decade and a half, but recent events have raised serious concerns about the viability of this event.

On one hand, hosting the World Cup would bring significant financial benefits to cities and businesses across the US. It would also provide an opportunity for soccer fans in the country to experience the pinnacle of the sport in their own backyards. However, these benefits come at a steep price.

The most pressing concern is public safety. In recent weeks, there have been instances of federal violence targeting innocent civilians, including two people who were killed in Minneapolis. These incidents raise serious questions about whether the US can guarantee a safe and secure environment for millions of visitors expected to descend on cities during the World Cup.

Furthermore, the country's immigration policies under the Trump administration have resulted in a significant number of detentions and deportations, many of which are based on trumped-up charges. The raids targeting Democratic-leaning areas have sparked widespread concern about human rights abuses and have put the US in a difficult position when it comes to welcoming foreign visitors.

In light of these concerns, some experts are suggesting that the US should consider withdrawing its bid to host the World Cup. While this would undoubtedly be a blow to soccer fans across the country, it may also be a necessary step to protect public safety and promote human rights.

The question on everyone's mind is whether the sport can take precedence over politics in a country with such deep divisions. As one football executive pointed out, "Football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans." But how long can this be sustained? The US has a responsibility to prioritize the safety and well-being of its citizens, as well as to uphold human rights standards.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to host the World Cup in 2026 is a complex one that requires careful consideration of multiple factors. While there are valid arguments on both sides, it's clear that public safety and human rights must be at the forefront of any decision-making process.
 
ugh i dont know how much more of this us drama can take 🤯 like what even is the point of hosting the world cup if our own citizens cant feel safe in their own cities?? its not just about soccer fans anymore, its about people lives and human rights 🙏 we cant keep sweeping these issues under the rug and pretending everything will be fine for the sake of a tournament... newsflash: football isnt worth dying over 💔
 
🤔 I'm not sure if hosting the World Cup in the US is a good idea right now. On one hand, it would be awesome to have soccer fans here cheering on their teams, but on the other hand, public safety is really important and we can't just ignore all those problems 😕.

I mean, what if there's a incident during the tournament and people get hurt? Would that be the fault of the US government or whoever's in charge of organizing it? 🤷‍♂️ And what about all the immigrants who are being detained and deported? It doesn't feel right to invite millions of visitors when we can't even take care of our own citizens 🙅‍♂️.

I guess soccer is a sport that can bring people together, but in this country right now, it feels like there's too much division and not enough unity. We need to figure out how to put politics aside and prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone. That's just common sense 🤦‍♂️.

I don't know what the solution is, but I think we need to be careful about this one. Maybe it's better for someone else to host the World Cup next time? 💔
 
I'm thinking about this... hosting the World Cup is gonna bring a lot of cash to cities, but like, what's the point if ppl can't feel safe? 🤔 The US has some major issues right now, especially with immigration & public safety. It's not cool that ppl are being detained & deported without due process. And yeah, it's true, football will survive no matter what 🏈, but the govts gotta prioritize people's lives over sports events.

It's also weird that everyone's suddenly talking about human rights, but like, how many times has this been ignored in the US? It's time for the gov to take a hard look at itself & figure out how it can do better. 🤝 Can't wait to see what the FIFA folks come up with!
 
I'm so torn about this 🤔... I mean, hosting the World Cup would be an epic opportunity for the US to showcase its cities and culture, but with what's been going down, it feels like a huge risk 🚨. The recent incidents in Minneapolis are super worrying, and I don't think anyone can just ignore those concerns 😕. And let's not forget about the whole immigration situation... it's like, how can we expect to welcome all these visitors when we're still figuring out our own issues with people who live here? 🤷‍♀️ It feels like the US needs to take a step back and prioritize its citizens' safety and human rights before worrying about hosting an international event. But at the same time, I know how much soccer fans are counting on this... it's gonna be super hard to make that call 💔
 
🤔 I'm not sure if hosting the 2026 World Cup in the US is still a good idea 🏟️. On one hand, it could bring in some serious cash 💸, but on the other hand, we're talking about public safety and human rights here 🚨. The whole situation with federal violence against civilians and immigration policies that seem to be more focused on punishing people than protecting them is pretty unsettling 😬.

I mean, can we really put a price on ensuring the safety of our citizens? 🤷‍♀️ And what about those people who have been detained or deported based on trumped-up charges? That's some serious human rights stuff 🚫. I'm not saying soccer fans aren't going to show up and have a good time, but let's be real, the US is in no position right now to prioritize sports over politics 🤦‍♂️.

I think it's great that football executives are willing to speak out against this, though 👏. It shows that there are still some people who care about doing what's right, even if it means going against the status quo 💪. So yeah, maybe we should consider not hosting the World Cup in 2026 🤔. Let's put public safety and human rights first for once 🔥.
 
🤔 I just had the craziest idea for a new podcast I want to start 📻. I was thinking we could just talk about weird food combinations 😂 like peanut butter and pickles or chocolate-covered chips 🤮. I mean, who needs serious news when you can discuss the merits of putting pickles in your dessert? 💁‍♀️ My aunt actually thinks it's a great idea 🙃... anyway, back to the World Cup thing... have you tried watching soccer with anyone from another country? It's always interesting to see how different cultures react to the game 😄
 
I feel so worried about the US right now 🤕... it's like, can't they just focus on making their country a safe and happy place for everyone? 🌎 I know hosting the World Cup could bring in some cash, but is it really worth risking people's lives and violating human rights? 💔 It seems like there are so many other things that need to be prioritized over sports. Can't they just put aside their differences for once and work towards a common goal? 🤝
 
[Image of a soccer ball with a red "X" through it]

[fedora-clad meme character holding a sign that says "Politics > Soccer"]

[meme of a referee with a confused expression, surrounded by broken footballs and politicians' hats]

[Image of a person in handcuffs, with a caption that says "Detention > Hospitality"]

[A picture of the American flag with a Band-Aid on it, symbolizing safety concerns]
 
I'm worried about hosting the World Cup in the US right now... 🤕 The potential financial gains don't seem worth risking public safety and potentially putting lives at risk. I mean, have you seen those videos of migrant detention centers? It's heartbreaking. And yeah, the football will survive, but so should our humanity 😔. We need to think about what's truly important here - is it really about soccer or is it about making a statement? 🤷‍♀️ The US has a responsibility to prioritize its citizens and uphold human rights... we can't just sweep this under the rug and say "football will survive." It's time for some real talk 🗣️.
 
😬 The US hosting the 2026 World Cup just got super complicated 🤯. On one hand, it'd bring in a ton of cash for cities & businesses 💸, but on the other hand, public safety is majorly worried 😕 with all these federal violence incidents lately... and let's not forget about those immigration policies, which are kinda shady 🚫. It's like, can we just put politics aside for one day? ⏰ I mean, football is awesome & all, but human lives matter more 🌎. The US needs to weigh its priorities here & think about what's best for its citizens before making a decision 💡.
 
idk how can we even think about hosting a global event like the World Cup with all this drama going on 🤯 i mean, ppl are still traumatized from the minneapolis incident and now we wanna invite millions more to our city? that's just crazy 🚫 and what about all these detentions and deportations? do we really want to put a human rights spotlight on us? 📺 i think football can survive without us, tbh 💔 the US is like the ultimate example of how politics and sports don't mix 🤦‍♀️
 
😩 omg like what's going on with this US bid for the World Cup?! 🤯 they're gonna put lives at risk just to show off some soccer matches? 🏟️ i get it, it's a big deal and all, but can't they think about the ppl who actually live there?! 💔 i mean, have you seen the news lately? federal violence targeting innocent civilians? deportations? it's like, how can they guarantee safety for the world cup when they can't even keep their own citizens safe?! 🤷‍♀️ and don't even get me started on the immigration policies... 😱 it's all just too much. i think they should reconsider hosting the tournament. our lives are more important than some soccer match 🏆👎
 
Ugh, can't believe what's going on with the US hosting the World Cup 🤯... like, I get it, $$$ is involved but do we really have to put our citizens first? The state of law enforcement in this country is already shady enough without bringing in millions of tourists. And don't even get me started on the immigration stuff - it's just not right 🙅‍♂️. Can we please prioritize human rights and safety over some football tournament for once? It feels like everyone's losing sight of what's truly important... 😩
 
The US hosting the 2026 World Cup would undoubtedly be a massive logistical challenge 🤯. On one hand, you have the potential for huge economic gains and an opportunity to showcase American football to a global audience 🌎. However, with recent events like the federal violence in Minneapolis and the ongoing immigration issues 🚔, it's hard not to wonder if the country is truly equipped to handle the influx of visitors expected during the tournament 🤔.

From a purely practical standpoint, I think the US should take a step back and reevaluate its priorities. Can we really guarantee public safety amidst such deep-seated divisions? And what about the human rights implications of our current immigration policies? 🚫 It's time for us to put our citizens' needs above all else, even if that means passing on hosting duties 👎.

It'll be interesting to see how this decision plays out. I'm not sure which way the scales will tip, but one thing's for certain - public safety and human rights should always come first 💯
 
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