Waiting on the World Cup: 100 days to go

The world is in a state of alert following the US attack on Iran and Tehran’s response across the Middle East, targeting countries that host American military bases. Today marks 100 days until the start of the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Iran has already qualified, yet the outlook is far from reassuring. The president of the Iranian Football Federation has cast doubt on the team’s participation, and criticism of the escalation initiated by the US and Trump is growing louder.

What should be a celebration, the symbolic start of the 100-day countdown that brings the World Cup into clear view, has instead become a landscape of uncertainty. Questions surround the tournament and few answers are forthcoming. FIFA, through its Secretary General Mattias Grafström, said it was “aware of what is happening”. However, it seems unlikely that the governing body will take action against one of its hosts, the United States, or against one of its most visible political figures, Donald Trump, with just over three months remaining before kick-off.

The situation in the Middle East is growing increasingly unstable. Yesterday, one of the refineries in Saudi Arabia belonging to Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil companies and a major FIFA sponsor as well as an official World Cup partner, was bombed. The attack was widely interpreted as a multifaceted message from Iran. In Saudi Arabia, unlike in Qatar, domestic football has not been suspended. The Qatari federation has announced that there will be no football until further notice, raising concerns about the possible postponement of the Finalissima scheduled for 27 March. It is not a FIFA competition, but the difficulties faced by UEFA and CONMEBOL in organising matches as planned suggest that FIFA could also encounter serious obstacles in the 100 days leading up to the summer tournament.

Foreign players, coaches and staff in countries neighbouring Iran, such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain, remain under lockdown. “We had played a Cup match the day before and had a day off. When we were nearby, the sirens started blaring and security personnel told us to turn back because the US embassy had been attacked. We are scared. We want this to end now,” said Miguel Ángel Baltanás, a member of the coaching staff at Al-Muharraq SC, in remarks reported by Antonio Ruiz.

Iran is not the only nation facing uncertainty regarding the World Cup. Haiti, returning to the tournament after 52 years, appears on a list of 14 countries whose citizens face irregular immigration status under Trump’s current policy.

As a result, Haitian nationals do not currently have access to the United States. Whether exceptions will be granted during the 38 days of the World Cup remains unclear.

Another concern has emerged in one of the host countries, Mexico. The violence that erupted following the death of cartel leader El Mencho has severely affected cities due to host World Cup matches, including Guadalajara. Spain, for example, are scheduled to play their final group-stage match there against Uruguay on 26 June.

In just three weeks, Guadalajara and Monterrey are also due to host official World Cup qualifying matches, specifically the intercontinental play-offs that will decide two remaining places. The contenders include New Caledonia, Jamaica, DR Congo, Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq. It will be another significant test of FIFA’s organisational capacity amid mounting geopolitical tensions.

With 100 days to go, the World Cup should be building anticipation. Instead, it is unfolding against a backdrop of instability. The ball may be ready to roll, but the tension is impossible to ignore.

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