I’m a big football (soccer) fan. I have been since I was a boy, playing for my schools in Pennsylvania. I played until i was about 50 and a couple of ACL injuries (and my wife) convinced me that I should retire. I coached my older son from the age of six, in Australia, England and the US. I got my class E coaching license in Connecticut. I coached my younger son in ‘travel soccer’ for years after the older one outgrew me.
I love to watch football and am a big fan of the Premier League. I have stayed in touch with my teammates from college and we talk (on WhatsApp) almost every day – mostly about football. We get together once a year to watch, talk football and go to a game somewhere. I even hosted them in London one year and tood them to a Fulham match and an Arsenal one. I took my younger son to the World Cup in Brazil and it was a once in a lifetime experience to go to games and mix with other football fans from around the world.
So – when it was clear that the World Cup in 2026 would be held in North America it was exciting! My old friends and I started brainstorming and plotting for the tournament. We were thinking of renting a Winnebago and touring from venue to venue to watch the games. We could imagine going to games in a wide variety of cities.
We always knew that FIFA was a pretty corrupt organization, but it never seemed close enough to impact our enjoyment of the game. Recently, however, our views have changed.
I plan to go to no World Cup games at all.
FIFA are pricing the tickets in the stratosphere. While I could probably afford to get a few tickets and it would be a very special event, I am resentful of what they are doing. Many many fans are serious followers of their teams, and they are completely priced out. Then there is the incredibly distasteful sucking up of FIFA President Infantino to US President Donald Trump. He has visited the White House a number of times, and made no secret of his agenda. Finally, when Trump failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize (seriously? he can’t even keep the peace at home), Infantino announed the FIFA Peace Prize. It was all so very nauseating.
I hereby boycott going to the World Cup.
Admittedly I can’t wait to watch the games on TV, and my mates and I are going to choose a non-venue city to gather and watch the games. We love this game and can’t wait to see England, Argentina, Brazil, USA, Netherlands….battle it out for places in the final.
In four years, the tournament will take place in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. I will reset my views and think very seriously about going there to the games! In the meantime, however, I spit on FIFA, Infantino and Trump (especially). They will have to carry on without my support 🙂
mikesteinharter.com 