Former New York City mayor, Eric Adams, made a powerful statement ahead of the World Cup with the spate of negative happenstance in the USA.
Adams declared that “football would not exist without immigrants”. It was a direct response to the growing controversy over the treatment of players and fans entering into the US.
The remarks land at a charged moment
In the past week alone, Senegal’s players were searched on the airport tarmac, Uzbekistan’s squad faced drug-sniffing dogs on arrival.
Africa’s best referee, Omar Artan was denied entry because of his Somali nationality.
Similarly, Iraq’s striker was held for seven hours at Chicago’s O’Hare airport.
#BoycottWorldCup2026 trending
The Council on Foreign Relations noted that many African fans with valid visas have chosen to avoid the USA altogether, traveling to Canada or Mexico instead.
They are saying that they do not want to arrive at an airport and “have to explain themselves for three hours.”
Against that backdrop, Adams’ words carry real weight. New York, one of the tournament’s most high-profile host cities, set to stage matches at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, is a city built on immigration.
Its football fanbase reflects every corner of the world.
The 2026 World Cup features a record ten teams from African countries making the issues around entry, dignity and welcome more visible than at any previous tournament.
The World Cup begins tomorrow. The football will be spectacular. But the conversation happening off the pitch may prove just as significant.
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