Escalating diplomatic tensions in sports: Brussels puts pressure on FIFA over the safety of World Cup fans
The European Union's Commissioner for Sport, Glenn Micallef, warned of a "lack of sufficient guarantees" for the safety of European fans expected to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of not doing enough to provide clear assurances.
“The FIFA president needs to do more,” Micallef told Politico in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, noting that his previous demands for concrete security guarantees have not yet received an official response.
The Maltese commissioner attributed the rise in European concern to the tense global security situation, particularly with the continued US military tensions in the Middle East and the involvement of US immigration authorities in event security plans, stressing that “the public has the right to clear guarantees from a security and safety perspective.”.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are hosting the historic tournament, which kicks off on June 11, with 48 teams participating, including 16 European teams that are candidates to qualify. European concerns also extend to the level of security within some of the Mexican host cities, as well as the record of previous violent incidents in the United States.
Micallef stressed that "the primary responsibility for protecting the fans lies with FIFA and the organizers," adding that organizing an event of this size "requires ensuring a safe environment for both teams and fans.".
In contrast, a FIFA spokesperson stressed that "the safety of participants and fans is a top priority," expressing the federation's confidence in the ability of the three host countries to provide a safe environment for the tournament.
The European Commissioner's criticism wasn't limited to security; it extended to FIFA's international partnerships, particularly its collaboration with initiatives backed by US President Donald Trump, which he argued raised questions about the federation's commitment to the rules-based international order. Micallef preferred cooperation with organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF over unilateral initiatives.
He concluded his remarks by calling for the opening of constructive channels of dialogue between sports federations and relevant authorities, to avoid escalation into legal disputes, and to ensure that major tournaments are held in a safe and stable environment.
The European Union Commissioner for Sports, Glen McKaliff, warned of the “lack of sufficient guarantees” for the safety of European fans expected to travel to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, accusing FIFA President Gianni Infantino of not making enough effort to provide clear reassurances.
McKaliff stated in exclusive remarks to Politico today, Tuesday: “The FIFA president needs to make more efforts,” noting that his previous demands for concrete security guarantees have not received an official response so far.
The Maltese commissioners attributed the rising European concern to the globally tense security situation, especially with the ongoing US military tensions in the Middle East, and the involvement of US immigration authorities in event security plans, emphasizing that “fans have the right to receive clear guarantees from a security and safety perspective.”
The United States, Canada, and Mexico will host the historic tournament, which kicks off on June 11 with the participation of 48 teams, including 16 European teams expected to qualify. European concerns also extend to the level of security within some of the host cities in Mexico, as well as the record of previous violence incidents in the United States.
McKaliff stressed that “the primary responsibility for protecting fans lies with FIFA and the organizing bodies,” adding that organizing an event of this magnitude “requires ensuring a safe environment for both teams and fans.”
In contrast, a FIFA spokesperson confirmed that “the safety of participants and fans is a top priority,” expressing the federation’s confidence in the three host countries’ ability to provide a safe atmosphere for the tournament.
The European commissioners' criticisms were not limited to the security aspect but also extended to FIFA's international partnerships, particularly its collaboration with initiatives backed by US President Donald Trump, considering that this raises questions about the federation's commitment to the rules-based international order. McKaliff preferred cooperation with organizations like UNESCO and UNICEF instead of unilateral initiatives.
He concluded his remarks by calling for the opening of constructive dialogue channels between sports federations and relevant parties to avoid escalation into legal disputes and ensure that major tournaments are held in a safe and stable environment.
