Stephen A. Smith claps back at Trump:
“The brother wasn't awake. If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn't you call out former President Joe Biden, 'Sleepy Joe'? Well, what should we call you?”
(via @FirstTake, h/t @NBA__Courtside)
Hi darling @ToniKroos
You spent months criticizing Qatar and talking about every possible issue before and during the 2022 World Cup, yet it turned out to be one of the best-organized tournaments in history. Public transportation was free, fans could travel easily between stadiums some fans saw 4 matches in the stadium in same day, and the overall organization was praised by millions of visitors.
Now, when concerns are being raised about visa delays, strict entry procedures, and travel difficulties surrounding tournaments in the United States, we don't hear the same level of criticism from you. There have also been complaints about organizational decisions and match arrangements that many fans consider unnecessary or difficult, yet your voice is nowhere near as loud as it was when Qatar hosted the World Cup.
If your criticism is truly based on principles, then the same standards should apply to everyone. But when Qatar receives endless criticism while similar concerns elsewhere are met with silence, people are naturally going to question whether your issue was really about organization at all.
Fuck you.
Gianni Infantino knocked down all the reporting over visa concerns for this World Cup in August 2025: “I think it’s important to clarify this. There is a lot of misconception out there. Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year.
“There is a process to go through to get visas and so on. This process will be smooth…
“We want to unite the world and we will unite the world next year. The world needs occasions of unity, of bringing teams together, of bringing people together, of bringing fans together... So again everyone will be welcome, be positive and you will see it will be a great, great celebration of the greatest FIFA World Cup ever.”
No, again we are just meant to look the other way and allow this thing we love so much, that we want to enjoy, that we can map our whole lives around, to be used and abused.
Again we are told about unity and inclusion when division, disparity and denial is the reality.
It is a great, great celebration of getting more money whatever it takes, no matter who has to pay the price. The greatest showpiece of allowing - unopposed! - the man who is meant to protect and grow the people’s game into playing celebrity, massaging his own ego and that of heads of state.
The biggest, most expensive, least accessible World Cup ever. The thing we love and all the beautiful pieces of it we’ve lost.
Unless Fifa stands up to Trump.* this World Cup will be the modern equivalent of the 1936 Olympics
*No chance of that, the clowns have given him a "peace prize"
At the end of the day there are people who will support racist USA’s decision to deny Africa’s best referee a chance to do what he does best. And I don’t blame them.
African and Arab countries should boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 2028 LA Olympics won’t be any different. Boycott that too.
Where’s Norway, Netherlands, and Germany’s voice on human rights on and off the pitch.
I see no reason why anyone should be subjecting themselves to ridicule,most especially Africa countries and Arab countries,they should all be boycotting the World Cup in solidarity with USA barbaric behaviors
Selective amnesia by the western journalists about the US hosting the World Cup and other countries that have hosted is so funny to see.
Suddenly no one is writing think pieces on why denial to officials, players, and fans is unacceptable because it is from the US.
A proper joke.
So @FIFAcom’s position is that a referee they selected for the World Cup can be excluded because of one host country’s racism, and FIFA bears no responsibility whatsoever.
Then why wasn’t he assigned to Canada or Mexico?
The tournament has three host countries. The obstacle is one country, not the entire World Cup. So why isn't FIFA finding a solution?
What FIFA is really saying is that when officials from the Global South are discriminated against, accommodation is impossible and exclusion is acceptable.
A World Cup that only works for holders of the right passports is not a global tournament. It’s a privilege masquerading as one.