Every World Cup tells us something about the world beyond football.
Mexico, Canada and the United States gave us unforgettable matches, emerging stars and a thrilling finale. But when I look back on this tournament, I won’t just remember the goals. I’ll remember the politics. This felt like the most political World Cup I’ve ever witnessed.
Before a ball had even been kicked, football was colliding with politics. The decision to stop Somali referee Omar Artan from officiating at the tournament was a reminder that no one is immune from geopolitics. Questions surrounding travel restrictions of the Iranian delegation emerged while the country is at war with the host nation. Then came Trump’s role in overturning the suspension of US player Folarin Balogun following his red card. And as the tournament ended, Argentina’s players waved a Las Malvinas flag at the end of England’s defeat in the semi-final, reviving claims over the Falkland Islands.
None of those stories were really about football. Yet, every one of them became part of the World Cup story. For years we’ve clung to the romantic idea that football exists in a vacuum, detached from politics. It is a lovely sentiment. It is also increasingly unrealistic. I don’t believe football and politics can be separated anymore. In truth, I’m not convinced they ever could.
The Qatar World Cup showed us that four years ago. Human rights dominated headlines throughout the tournament. LGBTQ+ issues became part of the global conversation. The football remained brilliant, but it existed alongside debates that reached far beyond the pitch. Many assumed those discussions were unique to Qatar. This World Cup proved they weren’t.
Politics didn’t disappear simply because the tournament moved to North America. If anything, it became even more visible. Rather than resisting that reality, we should acknowledge what the World Cup has become. It is one of the largest shared global experiences on Earth. Billions of people watch it. Hundreds of countries are emotionally invested. There is no other sporting event that commands such sustained international attention. That creates an extraordinary opportunity. Not for football to become a political campaign, but for football to become an educational one.
Throughout this tournament I found myself doing something I hadn’t expected: I researched the history behind the fixtures. When France played Senegal, I wasn’t only thinking about tactics or individual battles. I found myself reading about France’s colonial history in West Africa and how that relationship still shapes both nations today. The football became an entry point into understanding their history.
I don’t think that’s a bad thing – quite the opposite. Football has always reflected society. Now it can also help us understand it. The same applies whenever nations with complicated histories meet on the biggest stage. Whether those relationships are shaped by colonialism, migration, conflict or political alliances, the World Cup encourages millions of people to ask questions they may never otherwise have considered. That curiosity should be welcomed.
Too often we treat sport and education as though they belong in different worlds. In reality, the World Cup offers one of the greatest classrooms imaginable. A match can spark conversations about history, identity, race, migration, women’s rights or diplomacy in ways that textbooks sometimes cannot. Football opens the door. People walk through it.
Players should never feel obliged to become political, nor should Fifa respond to an outcry (despite outrageously responding to Trump’s intervention on Balogun’s ban). The game’s governing bodies have a responsibility to apply their rules consistently regardless of which nation is involved. But pretending politics isn’t already present serves nobody.
Governments understand the soft power that comes with hosting a World Cup. Nations use football to showcase themselves to the world. Politicians attend finals because they recognise football’s influence. Fans travel across continents, bringing cultures together in a way few other events can.
Politics has already entered football. The real question is what we do with that reality. My hope is that future World Cups encourage greater understanding rather than greater division. If a tournament inspires people to learn about women’s rights in one country, racial equality in another or the legacy of colonialism elsewhere, that is a positive outcome. If global attention encourages meaningful conversations about issues that citizens have long wanted addressed, that too can be positive. Visibility alone does not solve problems, but it can make them harder to ignore.
Football cannot fix the world’s injustices. But it can shine a light on them. The World Cup has evolved into something bigger than a sporting competition. It is a snapshot of our world every four years. It reflects our triumphs, our tensions, our histories and our hopes for the future.
The football will always come first. But pretending the politics isn’t there no longer feels honest.
Hence then, the article about eni aluko the things i learned from a world cup mired in politics was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Eni Aluko: The things I learned from a World Cup mired in politics )
Also on site :
- 'Real Housewives of Salt Lake City' Star Angie Katsanevas & Husband Shawn Trujillo Split After 27 Years of Marriage
- U.S. military launches 10th straight night of airstrikes on Iran as Houthi allies threaten Red Sea, but glimmers of hope appear on diplomatic front
- T.J. Maxx's Beautiful Linen Dining Chair Sets Has Shoppers Racing to Buy Them Before They're Gone for Good