Silence for the victims of wildfires in Spain and then, immediately, the oil ad.. #ESPBEL #WorldCup

The son of the man shot and killed by ICE: I am Ronaldo Salgado, the oldest son of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo. He should've been picking up the last of his guys before heading to finish up construction. Unbeknownst to all of us, my dad had been shot inside his van by ICE agents in unmarked cars.

Another person has been shot and killed by an ICE officer, this time in Houston. Mr. Salgado Araujo should still be alive, with his community and loved ones. We call for an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation–and accountability–now! ICE does not make our communities safer.

Another senseless killing in a continuing genocide. A man who sought to help others and bring joy through the World Cup. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

Could not be more proud of this team. They brought us collective joy we haven't seen in the 15 years since the revoltuion

Excellent piece by my friend @philipoconnor.bsky.social about the vulnerable communities in Vancouver's dystopian downtown east side and the local government's early-morning sweeps and raids. This is happening in the shadow of the World Cup www.reuters.com/sports/socce...

New statement from the Belgian FA.

Following Egypt's historic World Cup victory on Friday, the team's coach (and legendary striker) Hossam Hassan raised the Palestinian flag and dedicated the victory to its people. "I’m dedicating this victory to the Egyptian people and Palestinian people, those kind and honourable people,” he said

Egypt coach dedicates World Cup win to Palestine. “I’m saying to them: I’m dedicating this victory to the Egyptian people & Palestinian people, those kind and honorable people,” said coach Hossam Hassan. www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/...

I love this by @barneyronay.bsky.social The names of England XI the last time we played at the Azteca: Pete, Gary, Kenny, Terry, Terry, Trevor, Glenn, Pete, Steve, Pete, Gary. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Kylian Mbappé #WorldCup

While we’ve been watching the World Cup, ICE has been ramping up arrests across the US. 10,000 arrests over the last five days, doubling the daily rate at the start of the year. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07...

Schweinsteiger could have the grace to admit that his choice of words perpetuated lazy, racist stereotypes whether he meant it or not. It could be a moment to recognise that teams and players from Senegal, Cote d’ivoire or Egypt can be as tactically astute and sophisticated as any European.

Stay woke King.

Lamine Yamal’s World Cup boots were meant to honour his family roots. Instead, they ignited a debate in Spain over national identity and loyalty, with critics contrasting the teenage star with a UFC fighter who better suited their nationalist vision. www.sportspolitika.news/p/lamine-yam...

And another - the shamelessness of instrumentalising a talented multi-ethnic squad to celebrate racist immigration policies…

It’s been 5 hours since BBC first reported this story and the national pick up is fairly sparse. Has violent Islamophobia been normalised to this extent?

Hate has consequences, and it’s never the rabble rousers and grifters that pay the price. Devastating for the victims, terrifying for anyone who lives fearing they may be next.

The sportswashing of mass deportations.

This is genuinely fantastic for Vozinha and his mum. But the bar to get a visa for the World Cup shouldn’t be having a son who can make seven top class saves against the reigning European champions… www.theguardian.com/football/202...

“Every team can have their people, so I don’t understand why people from Africa cannot.” Senegal captain Koulibaly speaks out on travel bans limiting travel from his country for fans for World Cup. www.nytimes.com/athletic/736...

“Mbappé just ruins our life” - my daughter Sadio, 8.

Good to see the ref is a strong believer in colonial reparations. Allez les lions! 💪🇸🇳💪🇸🇳

Senegal v France is the first game I’m genuinely excited about. Time for the spirit of 2002. Allez les lions de la teranga! 🇸🇳🇸🇳🇸🇳

Forget Cruyff, Gullit and Van Basten this is the best ever moment in Dutch football.

As Australia are playing in their first game of the #FifaWorldCup, we want to thank Socceroo footballer Jackson Irvine for speaking out for human rights. It’s a powerful message to all footballers & pundits that they can use their platform to speak out against injustice. #HumanityMustWin

I know Calvin’s dad is already having a moment, but every terrible “outsource precious and fleeting moments with your children to tech so that you can spend more time on your work” pitch makes me think of that one strip I never really cared about as a kid, but care a lot about as an adult.

For Saikou and his friends, the 2022 World Cup is not over. The Fifa circus has noved elsewhere, but the struggle and the suffering go on for them. Forgetting them is betraying them.

"This is probably the one that has disenfranchised LGBT+ fans like no other... We knew Russia was going to be difficult. We knew Qatar was going to be almost impossible. But this one had so much optimism." A member of 3 Lions Pride on not attending this World Cup. www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ca...

UEFA stealing a march on FIFA. apnews.com/article/worl...

"Sometimes it is good to just chill and relax" - Infantino talking about criticism of Omar Artan's visa denial - might end up being the quote of this press conference. He's right that FIFA doesn't control everything. But it has failed to stand up for rights and inclusion, time and again.

The UN human rights agency in Geneva is seeing the “racial profiling, surveillance and immigration enforcement” around the World Cup and has concerns. Also 2 Olympics and a Women's World Cup coming to the US by 2034. apnews.com/article/worl...

Infantino begins the pre-World Cup press conference calling for the release of French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes - unjustly detained in Algeria. @rsf.org has been doggedly campaigning with @sportrightsall.bsky.social for his release. rsf.org/en/fifa-worl...

Omar Abdulkadir Artan, a Somali soccer referee who was denied permission to enter the U.S. to participate in the World Cup, received a hero’s welcome from a cheering crowd at the airport upon his return to his home country. nyti.ms/4ohh6ZU

Following on from the piece we did for the 2022 World Cup… Everything wrong with the 2026 World Cup www.independent.co.uk/sport/footba...

Ahead of the World Cup, Mexicans are creating Panini-style stickers to keep their forcibly disappeared loved ones in the public eye. www.sportspolitika.news/p/world-cup-...

FIFA has now confirmed that Artan will no longer be able to officiate at the World Cup, which like for players, is the biggest moment in the lives of referees. FIFA has said it is nothing to do with them, but a decision made by US authorities and that the decision is not likely to be changed.

Great to see Belgian fans unfurl a banner calling on FIFA to Kick ICE Out of the World Cup 💪🇧🇪⚽️

Iran wore '#168' pins honouring no. of children reportedly lost in Minab attack, on Mexico arrival. They held up school bags & pictures during March friendlies. Act of remembrance or political messaging & what now at WC? Free read on @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

Terrific news: @playthegame-org.bsky.social is launching "a new podcast about the people, powers, and politics shaping sport". First episode: a discussion with Qatar 2022 whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais, who was prevented from addressing the Oslo Freedom Forum in person last week.

This month I started a new role as Amnesty's Regional Director for Europe. Great new challenge. My old job is now being advertised - it is highly recommended, so please share with anyone interested! (PS. Still covering World Cup until it's done though...) careers.amnesty.org/jobs/vacancy...

The "most inclusive World Cup ever", another update.

After refusing to help cover up migrant worker abuses as Qatar's World Cup media manager, Abdullah Ibhais was imprisoned—and forced to watch the tournament from behind bars. Listen to episode 4 of Power Plays to learn more about his story. www.sportspolitika.news/p/qatar-worl...

Marjane Satrapi 1969-2026

And another one...

My train back to Newcastle from London is 51 minutes late because a plastic bag was on the tracks. The train announcer didn’t specify whether it was at least a bag for life, rather than a really flimsy single use one.

On a press conference for @sportrightsall.bsky.social, the head of Football Supporters Europe - the official group representing fans across the tournament - just said that they don't know a single disabled fan travelling with a companion to watch this summer's World Cup... A World Cup for all?

We all know that tickets for this summer's World Cup are already extortionate. But did you know many disabled fans will have to pay double? Unlike past tournaments, FIFA is charging companions to attend too. Anything to make that $14 billion revenue target. www.fanseurope.org/news/fifas-t...

Most Americans oppose ICE presence at the FIFA World Cup, according to new poll www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...

The World Cup comes to Vancouver in two weeks. Hotel workers are still fighting for a contract. DTES residents are being cleared from their homes. The city is deploying 800 extra officers. Who is this for? My latest for @karimzidan.com's Sports Politika: www.sportspolitika.news/p/world-cup-...