USA 'may use 2026 World Cup as a distraction' say UK academics

World Cup 'may distract from US policies'

This summer's Fifa World Cup may be exploited by the United States government to distract from controversial political policies, according to a professor of Philosophy in Sport.

The tournament, which is the most watched sporting event in the world, will run from June 11-July 19 in cities across the US, Mexico and Canada.

Professor Emily Ryall from the University of Gloucestershire said the US is "not immune" from criticism that it will use the tournament as a way of "sportswashing" its global image.

The BBC has approached Fifa for comment.

In recent decades, human rights groups and media outlets have accused several nations of using sport to improve their image worldwide.

China was accused by Amnesty International of using the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games to paint a positive picture of the country while committing human rights violations away from scrutiny.

Human Rights Watch labelled the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia the "bloody World Cup" because of the deaths of nearly two dozen workers while building the stadiums, while ESPN called sportswashing a "driving force" for Qatar wanting to host the tournament in 2022.

"The United States is not immune from similar critique," Ryall said.

"Mega-events such as the World Cup provide fertile ground for political theatre: a platform through which national strength, unity, and superiority can be projected to both domestic and international audiences."

This year, for the first time, the World Cup will feature 48 teams, up from 32 at the last tournament.

Fifa explained the expansion by arguing it would increase interest in the sport, but the governing body has been accused of growing the tournament purely for financial gain.

The attorney generals of New York and New Jersey have begun an investigation into Fifa's ticketing practices for the 2026 World Cup, alleging fans were misled about the location of seats they were paying for.

It is also claimed Fifa purposefully withheld blocks of tickets from sale, to drive up the prices of those which were on offer.

Ryall said: "Football's emotional power lies in its capacity to generate deep forms of identification and loyalty. Yet this very devotion renders supporters vulnerable."

Dr Oscar Berglund, senior lecturer in international public and social policy at the University of Bristol, has been equally critical - saying football has become "a primary target" of sportswashing.

"This World Cup, with the ridiculous Trump Peace Prize and having [oil producer] Saudi Aramco as its main sponsor reaches new levels," he said.

When the sponsorship deal with Saudi Aramco was announced, many environmental charities also criticised Fifa for partnering with a big oil company.

But the organisation's president Gianni Infantino said the deal would "focus on developing grassroots sport initiatives".

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.