African nations urged to consider boycotting 2026 World Cup tournament

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A group of 25 British members of parliament have tabled a motion urging global sporting authorities to consider excluding the United States from hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup until it demonstrates compliance with international law. This follows weeks of mounting pressure across Europe over the tournament’s political climate.

The US has been criticized for its support of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has resulted in significant human rights concerns. The deaths of Minneapolis residents Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti during immigration enforcement operations have sparked nationwide outrage and protests. In 2026, at least eight people have been shot by federal immigration agents or died in immigration detention.

The US-Israel partnership is a significant factor in the conflict. Washington has provided diplomatic protection, political backing, and approximately $3.8 billion in annual military assistance to Israel since the war began on October 7, 2023. This support has contributed to the destruction of Palestinian territory, with over 72,000 Palestinians killed, 171,661 wounded, and significant damage to Gaza’s housing, schools, hospitals, water systems, and other civilian infrastructure.

The displacement of nearly 90% of Gaza’s population – approximately 1.9 million people – has been a major consequence of the conflict. Israeli forces have also intensified raids, farmland seizures, and movement restrictions across Palestinian communities in Jenin, Nablus, Hebron, and the Jordan Valley in the occupied West Bank.

The African continent has significant historical ties to liberation struggles through organized sports competitions. The 1976 Soweto riots in South Africa resulted in the deaths of 15-year-old Hastings Ndlovu and injured thousands more. Despite this, diplomatic and sporting relations between the apartheid state and Western allies continued.

A public petition is urging withdrawal from the competition, while French parliamentarian Eric Coquerel has warned that participation risks legitimizing policies undermining international human rights standards. The motion tabled by British MPs aims to raise awareness about the US’s role in the conflict and its impact on global sporting events.

Source: Al Jazeera