EU commissioner criticizes FIFA leadership over World Cup security concerns
Who's accountable for the results?
European Union sports commissioner Glenn Micallef urged FIFA to strengthen security planning for the 2026 World Cup on Monday, warning that rising geopolitical tensions could pose risks for teams and fans.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are set to jointly host the tournament, with as many as 10 million visitors expected to travel to the 11 U.S. cities hosting games.
“From my point of view, hosts of big sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and those who are responsible for the organization of the tournament, including FIFA, have a responsibility to ensure that the teams participating and the fans who are attending from those teams are assured of their safety and their security,” Micallef said in an interview with Politico.
Micallef pointed to a range of concerns across host nations, including cartel-related violence in Mexico following the death of cartel leader “El Mencho,” the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in security operations, and tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
“Following the escalation of tensions that we’ve seen in the last few days, we’ve asked again for renewed assurance for all those traveling to the World Cup, especially since one of the hosts of this biggest sporting event in the world is party to a war,” Micallef said.
On Tuesday, Iran signaled it may seek to relocate its matches. Iran’s Embassy in Mexico said the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico on Tuesday.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said in a statement on X translated from Persian.
Earlier this year, FIFA announced a partnership with the White House Board of Peace aimed at using football to support recovery and development in conflict-affected regions. FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the effort. “FIFA wants as many people as possible around the world to participate in our game and benefit from the opportunities it creates,” he said.
Micallef raised objections to the partnership, warning that it could undermine existing multilateral organizations.
“Speaking as a European commissioner responsible for sport, I would prefer to partner up with multilateral organizations, organizations that respect the international rules-based order, like UNESCO and UNICEF, when it comes to the implementation of projects related to sport,” he said.
WORLD …
Who's accountable for the results?
European Union sports commissioner Glenn Micallef urged FIFA to strengthen security planning for the 2026 World Cup on Monday, warning that rising geopolitical tensions could pose risks for teams and fans.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are set to jointly host the tournament, with as many as 10 million visitors expected to travel to the 11 U.S. cities hosting games.
“From my point of view, hosts of big sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and those who are responsible for the organization of the tournament, including FIFA, have a responsibility to ensure that the teams participating and the fans who are attending from those teams are assured of their safety and their security,” Micallef said in an interview with Politico.
Micallef pointed to a range of concerns across host nations, including cartel-related violence in Mexico following the death of cartel leader “El Mencho,” the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in security operations, and tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
“Following the escalation of tensions that we’ve seen in the last few days, we’ve asked again for renewed assurance for all those traveling to the World Cup, especially since one of the hosts of this biggest sporting event in the world is party to a war,” Micallef said.
On Tuesday, Iran signaled it may seek to relocate its matches. Iran’s Embassy in Mexico said the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico on Tuesday.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said in a statement on X translated from Persian.
Earlier this year, FIFA announced a partnership with the White House Board of Peace aimed at using football to support recovery and development in conflict-affected regions. FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the effort. “FIFA wants as many people as possible around the world to participate in our game and benefit from the opportunities it creates,” he said.
Micallef raised objections to the partnership, warning that it could undermine existing multilateral organizations.
“Speaking as a European commissioner responsible for sport, I would prefer to partner up with multilateral organizations, organizations that respect the international rules-based order, like UNESCO and UNICEF, when it comes to the implementation of projects related to sport,” he said.
WORLD …
EU commissioner criticizes FIFA leadership over World Cup security concerns
Who's accountable for the results?
European Union sports commissioner Glenn Micallef urged FIFA to strengthen security planning for the 2026 World Cup on Monday, warning that rising geopolitical tensions could pose risks for teams and fans.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are set to jointly host the tournament, with as many as 10 million visitors expected to travel to the 11 U.S. cities hosting games.
“From my point of view, hosts of big sporting events like the FIFA World Cup and those who are responsible for the organization of the tournament, including FIFA, have a responsibility to ensure that the teams participating and the fans who are attending from those teams are assured of their safety and their security,” Micallef said in an interview with Politico.
Micallef pointed to a range of concerns across host nations, including cartel-related violence in Mexico following the death of cartel leader “El Mencho,” the role of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in security operations, and tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
“Following the escalation of tensions that we’ve seen in the last few days, we’ve asked again for renewed assurance for all those traveling to the World Cup, especially since one of the hosts of this biggest sporting event in the world is party to a war,” Micallef said.
On Tuesday, Iran signaled it may seek to relocate its matches. Iran’s Embassy in Mexico said the country is negotiating with FIFA to move Iran’s World Cup matches from the U.S. to Mexico on Tuesday.
“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said in a statement on X translated from Persian.
Earlier this year, FIFA announced a partnership with the White House Board of Peace aimed at using football to support recovery and development in conflict-affected regions. FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the effort. “FIFA wants as many people as possible around the world to participate in our game and benefit from the opportunities it creates,” he said.
Micallef raised objections to the partnership, warning that it could undermine existing multilateral organizations.
“Speaking as a European commissioner responsible for sport, I would prefer to partner up with multilateral organizations, organizations that respect the international rules-based order, like UNESCO and UNICEF, when it comes to the implementation of projects related to sport,” he said.
WORLD …
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