World Cup and Politics

 

Introduction

Football, currently in the spotlight due to the 23rd World Cup (2026 FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) starting this month, is much more than just a sport; it is a social phenomenon closely linked to national and international politics. In this sense, sport in its broadest sense, and football in particular, should be carefully examined by political scientists as a very important phenomenon that can shape various political relations between and within states. In this article, after briefly describing the history of football and offering a few examples of its political influence, I will examine the history of the World Cup.

History of Football

According to many sources, the origins of football lie in a game called "Cuju" (300 BC) played in Ancient China, meaning "kicked ball". Recognised by FIFA as the earliest form of football, "Cuju" is a combination of the Chinese words "cu" (to kick) and "ju" (ball), meaning "kicked ball" or "ball kicking". Emerging during the Han Dynasty in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, Cuju was initially used to improve soldiers' physical condition and for military training. Over time, it evolved from military training to a popular pastime among the people, even becoming a court sport. Interestingly, Cuju was played by both men and women. Initially, Cuju involved striking a spherical ball filled with materials such as feathers or hair with only the feet and other parts of the body (excluding the hands). Over time, it developed into a more regulated sport involving kicks through nets stretched between two posts.

Cuju

However, the rules of football, as a modern sport, developed and became established in England during the 19th century, a country that was a world leader in every aspect from the 18th to the mid-20th century. Indeed, the unregulated, street-based or village-based "mob football" of medieval England, played by hundreds of people and often involving violence, became a more formal and regulated sport with the establishment of the first official rules by representatives meeting in London in 1863 and the founding of the English Football Federation. With the establishment of FIFA in 1904, football became a global and regulated sport. Today, in approximately 200 countries, with a few exceptions (U.S.- American football, baseball, basketball; India - cricket; Canada - ice hockey; Pakistan - cricket; Bangladesh - cricket; Australia - rugby; Japan - baseball), football is by far the most popular sport and also a massive industry.

Mob football

Football and Politics

Football's magical power to unite and fanaticise the masses, along with its enormous economic impact, has transformed it from a mere sport into a highly significant and influential political and economic force. In this context, the examples I provide below are concrete facts and events that illustrate football's political impact.

The 3F (football-fiesta-fado) formula: The "3F" formula, Football-Fiesta-Fado, is a method of mass manipulation and public relations allegedly used by authoritarian regimes (General Franco and Salazar) that ruled Spain and Portugal in the 20th century to lull the public into complacency and distance them from political realities. It is particularly known that Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar used this formula – "Fado, Fiesta, and Football" – to explain his rule, which lasted over 40 years, and that he utilised these cultural and social tools to manage large segments of the population.

Argentina and Juan Peron: In the 1940s and 1950s, Argentine leader Juan Peron used football as a tool to legitimise his populist policies and consolidate the public.

Algerian War of Independence (1950-1960s): Algerian footballers fighting for independence from France formed their own national team and played matches worldwide, helping make their cause known. In this way, Algeria's independence was won first by its footballers.

Catalonia and the Basque Country: During the Franco regime in Spain, teams like Athletic Bilbao (a Basque team), FC Barcelona (representing the Catalans), and Atlético Madrid (representing the Spanish working class) became symbols of resistance to the central government, protecting their cultural and political identities. Conversely, Real Madrid maintained its power as a symbol of the monarchy and the Spanish state.

The Football War: The 1969 conflict between El Salvador and Honduras, known in history as the "Football War" (Guerra del Fútbol) or the "Hundred-Hour War", was a four-day armed conflict fueled by football. The root cause of the war was actually the land and immigration crises between the two countries. El Salvador, due to its large population, had forced hundreds of thousands of landless peasants to migrate to neighbouring Honduras. These Salvadoran migrants eventually became a significant part of the Honduran economy. However, over time, the economic difficulties in Honduras began to weigh heavily on these migrants, leading to their expulsion. In June 1969, under these circumstances, the two national teams played three consecutive matches to qualify for the World Cup. These matches were heavily used as material for nationalist propaganda in the media of both countries. Honduras won the first match at home, while El Salvador won the return match in El Salvador. Incidents, chants, and acts of violence between fans during matches led to a breakdown in diplomatic relations between the two countries. Following this tension, the El Salvadoran Army launched a large-scale military and air offensive against Honduras. After four days (approximately 100 hours) of fighting, a ceasefire was brokered on July 18th through the intervention of the Organisation of American States (OAS). However, thousands of people lost their lives or were displaced during this period.

Football Diplomacy: Similar to the "ping pong diplomacy" that facilitated the first social interaction between the U.S. and China in 1973, the 1990 matches between Iran and Iraq were used to help reduce tensions between these two countries, which had been at war for many years.

World Cup

With the development of communication and transportation opportunities in the 20th century and the increasing commercial, political, and socio-cultural relations, the idea of ​​organising a football tournament in which all nations would participate emerged in the 1920s, parallel to the establishment of the League of Nations. Jules Rimet (1873-1956), a visionary French sports administrator who particularly focused on this issue, made serious efforts and initiatives as the 3rd President of FIFA; therefore, he is considered the father of the FIFA World Cup, the world's largest football organisation. Indeed, for many years, the World Cups were called the "Jules Rimet Cup" for this reason.

Jules Rimet

The World Cup was first held in Uruguay between July 13 and 30, 1930. The architect of the tournament was Jules Rimet, then President of FIFA. Thirteen countries participated in the inaugural tournament, and the host nation, Uruguay, won the first World Cup by defeating Argentina 4-2 in the final. The first-ever World Cup goal was scored by French footballer Lucien Laurent against Mexico on July 13, 1930. The following countries have won the championship in the 22 tournaments held to date: Brazil: 5 times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002); Germany: 4 times (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014); Italy: 4 times (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006); Argentina: 3 times (1978, 1986, 2022); France: 2 times (1998, 2018); Uruguay: 2 times (1930, 1950); England: 1 time (1966); Spain: 1 time (2010).

 

The history of the World Cup, from its inception to the present day, has been shaped by the following milestones:

 

Four-Year Contest: The tournament has been held every four years since its inception. However, due to World War II, the 1942 and 1946 tournaments were cancelled, and the cup was not resumed until 1950, after a 16-year hiatus.

 

Most Successful Team: Brazil is the most successful country in the history of the World Cup, with 5 championships.

 

Top Scorer: The all-time top scorer in the tournament's history is German footballer Miroslav Klose, with 16 goals.

 

Technology Era: The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was first implemented in World Cup history at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

 

2026 Format Change: The current 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held jointly by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada between June 11 and July 19, 2026. With this tournament, the number of teams has been increased to 48 for the first time.

World Cup and Politics

The World Cup, a massive event that affects billions of people, also triggers interesting political developments. This section will share some examples of this.

Where there's a World Cup, there's no war: First of all, it's noteworthy that, apart from the "Football War" during the World Cup qualifiers, no large-scale war occurred while the World Cup was underway. This is a concrete indicator of the organisation's influence.

1934 Italy: Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini completely controlled this tournament, held in his country, to promote his fascist regime and prove the superiority of the Italian race. In this way, Mussolini established strong ties with the people, consolidated his regime, and sought to create a suitable environment for his expansionist (irredentist) policies after the tournament.

1978 Argentina: The military junta (Videla regime) ruling the country used the World Cup as a public relations tool to cleanse the bloody stain on its regime while committing human rights violations in concentration camps near the stadiums. In this way, the regime prolonged its lifespan, and Argentina was only able to transition to democracy in 1983.

1998 U.S.-Iran match: In this match between two countries with very strained diplomatic relations, the players' friendly competition had a positive impact on bilateral relations.

Russia 2018: The Vladimir Putin administration used the tournament as a tool for legitimacy to break the isolation policies from the West following the annexation of Crimea and to refresh Russia's global image. As a result, Russia and Putin's image in the international public opinion remained relatively good until the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Qatar 2022: The tournament became the event where the concept of "sportswashing" was most debated. Although Qatar received intense criticism from Western media due to labour rights and LGBT+ restrictions, the tournament boosted its global visibility and diplomatic power to its peak. The successful and peaceful conduct of the tournament had a positive impact on Qatar's strength and image, leading to increased investment and tourism in the country.

Infantino and Trump

Trump and the 2026 World Cup: Ahead of the tournament, jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the Trump administration's use of football as an international advertising and political propaganda tool has drawn strong criticism from human rights organisations. Trump's harsh attacks, particularly against Democratic state governors, have already turned the tournament format and organisational mechanisms into a tool for domestic politics. Furthermore, the ongoing US-Iran war in the Middle East, despite a ceasefire, has created controversy regarding the participation of the Iranian national team. Initially negative, US President Donald Trump later resolved the issue of Iran's participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, thanks to the efforts of FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the World Cup will remain the most successful sporting event in human history. Our wish is that the organisation serves peace and is used not as a means of numbing the population, but as a tool for raising awareness.

Prof. Dr. Ozan ÖRMECİ