Press release: ‘Football Against Fascism’ campaign launches in opposition to World Cup matches being hosted in the United States 

Rising violence, travel bans, attacks on free speech, and violations of international law make the United States unfit to host the 2026 Football World Cup, campaigners say. 

Football Against Fascism is calling for matches to remove the US as a co-host of the tournament, launching a petition amidst growing concerns from MPs, celebrities and commentators about violence and recent killings by US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), as well as Trump’s threats and actions against Greenland, Venezuela, Iran, and other countries – including his arming and sustaining of the genocide in Gaza.

Jake Atkinson, a spokesperson for the campaign, said “With masked ICE agents murdering people in Minneapolis and kidnapping people off the streets across the US, the country is not safe to visit under Donald Trump. 

Not content with killing people in the US, Trump’s America continues supporting the genocide in Gaza and is bombing, threatening and bullying countries across the world – the world shouldn’t be going to him. Appeasing Trump only emboldens him. The World Cup is a clear opportunity for sports fans across the world to come together and resist his vision for a might-make-right world order based on corruption and violence.”

Recently implemented travel bans and visa suspensions applying to over 75 countries already threaten to cause chaos for the competition; visitors from England and Scotland – along with over 40 other countries – seeking to support their national teams will have to share 5 years of their social media history in order to visit the US.

With multiple instances of visitors from multiple countries, including England, being detained at the US border or even deported reportedly for sharing memes of JD Vance or views critical of the Trump regime, there is significant likelihood of fans being denied entry to the US.

Amna Abdullatif of The Three Hijabis said: “The World Cup should represent a global carnival of football bringing billions of people together, united by their love of football, its fans, diversity and joy. Instead, FIFA has once again scored a spectacular own goal by handing the World Cup to the USA, knowing Trump will weaponise this global sporting moment to further justify his government’s militarised attacks against migrants, communities of colour, and all those calling for an end to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and Trump’s war mongering.”

“The Three Hijabis believes in the power of football to unite communities and bring people together to tackle racism and bigotry. It is why we believe the US must be removed as a host for the World Cup.”

On the practicalities of moving the games to other cities within the US, Trump has already threatened to move matches from cities he deems “unsafe” – implying those in states such as California with Democratic Governors.

Ultimately, history shows that leaders have used international sporting events to whitewash their reputations, but equally they have been used by movements to build change for the better; such as when South Africa was banned from the Olympics and expelled from FIFA during apartheid.

Football Against Fascism will seek to deny Trump the ceremonial pageantry that comes with the spotlight of the World Cup, whilst also highlighting the rise of fascism in the UK, where there are growing calls from far-right politicians for a UK version of ICE.

“It’s simple,“ Atkinson said, “football brings people together, Trump tears them apart. We won’t let Trump claim the game.”

ENDS

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Football Against Fascism is a campaign by the Stop Trump Coalition. Spokespeople are available for interviews. 

Contact via email: press@stoptrump.org.uk