GENERAL World Cup Thread

But they did and they have. Complain about FIFA, complain about Infantino, complain to the clouds in the sky - the rules are there and all the hosts are applying their immigration and customs policy as they see fit. It is not dictated to them by FIFA, the RTE panel or anyone else who doesn't have any knowledge of the individual cases where people have been denied entry. Just because Putin ran a visa-free policy a number of years ago is irrelevant to today - there is no such policy in place, nor should there be. Plenty of people have travelled and the tournament appears to be attended well and progressing as well as it can be up to now.

Certainly the individual cases are being highlighted and blown up, as today's world tends to, but frankly, if the cases are being handled as per the norm, there is little recourse.

Nope, as has been pointed out to you - it was Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Qatar, Russia… extensive legislation were passed and requirements from FIFA applied. So it is utterly disingenous to suggest it was "just" a visa free policy or just for one tournament. It was part and parcel of how FIFA organised those World Cups.

How FIFA ran recent World Cups to avoid these issues cropping is therefore entirely relevant to any discussion of them.

As has been pointed out, the host country determines entry policy. The laws of the land only change by remit of the installed authority, not a NGO acting as the international governing body of association football. This is simple stuff.

Now, if you have access to the negotiated changes made to US immigration policy made between the US and FIFA, I'd be all ears. Otherwise, FIFA are happy enough for the hosts to operate as they have been - the tournament wouldn't have proceeded if not.

You may not like it, but it doesn't matter. It is what it is. It doesn't matter what happened in the past with regard to other tournaments, there are limits to where FIFA will look to entertain host bids, but they rarely have anything to do with things not associated to the financial return. We've witnessed that for many years. All I can say is that if anyone is planning to travel to the US or others for a game - have your stuff in order, the exact same way as you'd have to at any other time.

Yep, its all on FIFA…… They even made up a fricking Peace Prize to keep a 79 year old man happy

Well.....he's gonna be there side by side lifting the trophy with Harry Kane next month 😆

That peace prize thing will be far from everyone's mind then

Some people are just obsessed with America and can't take any criticism. Going as far even to pretend the US are the first host country to be at war with a contestant.

The US is the first World Cup host to be at war with a contestant. That's just a plain fact. For example see this:

https://theconversation.com/a-host-nation-at-war-with-a-participant-uncertainty-and-tension-swirl-around-soccers-world-cup-278191

or this: https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentOnline/posts/a-world-cup-had-never-kicked-off-with-a-host-at-war-with-a-participant-before/1552168926939095/

I could go on……(but maybe as of to-day the war in question is over)

Russia may have been at war with Ukraine in 2018, but Ukraine was not a contestant at the finals:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_FIFA_World_Cup

Both Russia/Ukraine and USA/Iran weren't at war when they were awarded the World cup.

Biggest scandal which shouldn't be overlooked is the lack of a 5pm/6pm game on some days of the group stage.

World Cup starts tomorrow. Everything else has been the preamble

and the Nobel Fair Play Sports Award goes to Donald and Giovanni. It would be wonderful if Iran and US had to play each other.

Iran head coach Amir Ghalenoei says they are the "most oppressed" team at the World Cup after having last-minute travel restrictions imposed on them.

Speaking after his side's 2-2 draw with New Zealand, on Monday night, Ghalenoei said they had expected to stay in Los Angeles overnight and have a recovery session the following day but were told after the final whistle to immediately return to their training base in Mexico.

Iran were originally due to be based in Tucson, Arizona, for the duration of the World Cup but moved their camp to Tijuana, Mexicoin late May after encountering logistical and visa issues.

"After the game they said to us 'you have to leave immediately'," Ghalenoei said.

"We've been asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana and we are really troubled by that.

"They are forcing us to go back early. They are making the situation more and more difficult, more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best."

It may well be the case. If he can't get into a squad when Livramento and White are both injured, and when James is already an injury liability, then it would appear he's really out of the picture under this Coach.

Tuchel still has options in fairness. Quansah and Stones have both played RB, Spence is versatile enough to play FB either side, so I don't think he is too worried

guy mowbray on bbc anointing Zizou as successor to Deschamps even though it’s not confirmed in any way yet