AAAfather Posted January 3 Posted January 3 With the military action in Venezuela today, including capture of its president by US forces, I think it is worth a thread about possible boycott actions or threats ahead which could endanger the integrity of the tournament. Typical Scotland - we qualify for a world cup and it possibly doesn't happen! I note Trump was awarded the FIFA peace prize only recently! While FIFA will likely turn a blind eye and claim to be apolitical, I wonder if other countries, particularly South American, may view non participation as a political statement ahead. Quote
thesaint Posted January 3 Posted January 3 34 minutes ago, AAAfather said: With the military action in Venezuela today, including capture of its president by US forces, I think it is worth a thread about possible boycott actions or threats ahead which could endanger the integrity of the tournament. Typical Scotland - we qualify for a world cup and it possibly doesn't happen! I note Trump was awarded the FIFA peace prize only recently! While FIFA will likely turn a blind eye and claim to be apolitical, I wonder if other countries, particularly South American, may view non participation as a political statement ahead. Don't think Argentina or Ecuador will have a problem with it for a start somehow. Quote
AAAfather Posted January 3 Author Posted January 3 So thinking aloud, South American politics is a basketcase, but if holders Argentina or most successful football nation Brasil pull out, it could destroy the credibility of the tournament and lead to other countries following suit. Note national football associations are easily controlled by a country's leader - just cancel the teams passports. There's also middle east countries qualified that could gain much politically from a late withdrawal to humiliate the United States. Think groups reduced to three where some third place teams qualify, etc. Brasil - turbulent but currently active relationship with Venezuela according to co-pilot. "Brazil-Venezuela relations are complex and fluctuating, swinging from close cooperation under Lula's early terms (Chávez era) to deep hostility under Bolsonaro (recognizing Guaidó) and now a cautious, pragmatic normalization under Lula's return, marked by border reopening and economic ties Argentina - very hostile relationship with Venezuela. "Argentina-Venezuela relations are currently extremely hostile, having completely broken down in July 2024 after Argentina's President Milei accused Venezuela's Maduro of electoral fraud, leading Maduro to expel Argentine diplomats and Venezuela closing its airspace to Argentina. This thread will either sink without trace or be one of the most read in 2026!!!! Quote
jumbocummings Posted January 4 Posted January 4 It will be interesting to see how Haiti react to this. They have a decent, or at least interesting, relationship with Venezuela I think. Quote
Yosemite Sam Posted January 4 Posted January 4 11 hours ago, jumbocummings said: It will be interesting to see how Haiti react to this. They have a decent, or at least interesting, relationship with Venezuela I think. Hiati and Brazil pull out, bye to the next round for us and Morocco, coolio! Quote
Bristolhibby Posted January 4 Posted January 4 The World Cup will go ahead unaffected. That’s my prediction. J Quote
Ally Bongo Posted January 4 Posted January 4 Iran, Algeria and Venezuela have requested that their games are moved to Mexico or Canada It is likely that Haiti would do the same Bold prediction to say that come June the World Cup will not be unaffected Quote
fringo Posted January 5 Posted January 5 4 minutes ago, Ally Bongo said: Iran, Algeria and Venezuela have requested that their games are moved to Mexico or Canada It is likely that Haiti would do the same Bold prediction to say that come June the World Cup will not be unaffected Have Venezuela qualified ? Quote
Ally Bongo Posted January 5 Posted January 5 7 minutes ago, fringo said: Have Venezuela qualified ? They were eliminated before the final round of qualifying matches They obviously jinxed themselves by putting in a pre emptive request Quote
AAAfather Posted January 5 Author Posted January 5 It makes sense now why Infantino gave Donald Trump that ridiculous inaugural FIFA Peace Prize It was an offering to attempt to persuade Trump not to invade until after the tournament Look how the 1980 and 1984 Olympics were ruined by boycotts and retaliations over the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. This boycott threat is quite possible. Quote
fringo Posted January 5 Posted January 5 1 minute ago, AAAfather said: It makes sense now why Infantino gave Donald Trump that ridiculous inaugural FIFA Peace Prize It was an offering to attempt to persuade Trump not to invade until after the tournament Look how the 1980 and 1984 Olympics were ruined by boycotts and retaliations over the invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. This boycott threat is quite possible. I was going to also say something about boycotts. If it was certain/many other countries that did something like USA have just done then there'd be multiple boycotts. But since it's Team America there'll probably be no reaction for WC 26. Quote
thesaint Posted January 5 Posted January 5 21 minutes ago, Ally Bongo said: They were eliminated before the final round of qualifying matches They obviously jinxed themselves by putting in a pre emptive request ?????😚 Quote
thesaint Posted January 5 Posted January 5 3 hours ago, Bristolhibby said: The World Cup will go ahead unaffected. That’s my prediction. J No doubt about it. Quote
Bristolhibby Posted January 5 Posted January 5 1 hour ago, Ally Bongo said: Iran, Algeria and Venezuela have requested that their games are moved to Mexico or Canada It is likely that Haiti would do the same Bold prediction to say that come June the World Cup will not be unaffected Football is too corrupt to do anything. Or give a toss about anyone. The only pair of balls has been to ban Russia. Israel should have been banned too. Not a squeak. Money talks. J Quote
Ally Bongo Posted January 5 Posted January 5 What happens if Trump does the same to Greenland as he has to Venezuela ? The EU will back Denmark for starters and everything is then up in the air There is a lot that can happen in the next few months Quote
Squirrelhumper Posted January 5 Posted January 5 7 hours ago, Ally Bongo said: What happens if Trump does the same to Greenland as he has to Venezuela ? The EU will back Denmark for starters and everything is then up in the air There is a lot that can happen in the next few months The Greenland thing would/will have far more consequences on the WC than Venezuela. Not even the uk could pretend nothing had happened. Quote
Orraloon Posted January 5 Posted January 5 9 minutes ago, Squirrelhumper said: The Greenland thing would/will have far more consequences on the WC than Venezuela. Not even the uk could pretend nothing had happened. Hmmm.. I'm not so sure. UK (and EU) politicians as so far up Trump's A-hole that it will be hard for them to slither back out again. Quote
vanderark14 Posted January 5 Posted January 5 4 minutes ago, Squirrelhumper said: The Greenland thing would/will have far more consequences on the WC than Venezuela. Not even the uk could pretend nothing had happened. I can't see it happening with Greenland. Both situations are completely different Quote
AAAfather Posted January 6 Author Posted January 6 (edited) I started this thread as speculation.... But there is starting to be quite a lot of concerning signals from the US about Greenland aggression. Trump threatens to use US military to acquire Greenland in shocking White House statement | LBC Any move on Greenland would certainly trigger a European nations walk-out in support of Denmark. Now at DEFCON2 on the 5 point scale of boycott possibility Edited January 7 by AAAfather typo Quote
er yir macaroon Posted January 7 Posted January 7 Most likely some kind of lease deal will be agreed for sections of Greenland. If Greenland is taken by force, then that would precipitate the immediate dissolution of NATO and probably widespread military conscription in European countries (including the UK) due to a real or imagined threat from Russia. I don’t think the World Cup would even go head in those circumstances and certainly not in the US. Quote
Guest Posted January 7 Posted January 7 If the US wants Greenland, they can effectively take it but I thought they'd go down the traditional route of fomenting unrest and making sure 'their guy' is installed as leader. Either that or essentially bribe the population. To threaten military force is stupid and counterproductive especially if the US wants to retain any allies. Quote
Hertsscot Posted January 7 Posted January 7 It's amazing (and worrying) that in a matter of days this thread has turned from speculation about an outside possibility to becoming a serious prospect. I've given up trying to predict what Trump might do but if he invaded Greenland then I can't see the World Cup going ahead. Quote
Hertsscot Posted January 7 Posted January 7 53 minutes ago, BryanBlessed said: To threaten military force is stupid and counterproductive especially if the US wants to retain any allies. I'm not sure Trump wants to retain allies, he just wants subjects. The USA is rapidly turning into the worlds equivalent of Millwall F.C, "We are America, we are America. No one likes us*. We don't care" * Except possibly Russia and Israel. Quote
Goozay Posted January 7 Posted January 7 2 hours ago, Hertsscot said: I'm not sure Trump wants to retain allies, he just wants subjects. The USA is rapidly turning into the worlds equivalent of Millwall F.C, "We are America, we are America. No one likes us*. We don't care" * Except possibly Russia and Israel. I think Trump doesn't care about or see the need or benefit of NATO, or the European members of NATO at least. He sees the world as having three superpowers with strongman leaders. He's happy for Russia and China to dominate their neighbouring countries, as long as the United States can dominate the Americas plus Greenland. Quote
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