The 2026 FIFA World Cup is supposed to be a celebration. The beautiful game, coming to North America, with the world's best teams competing for glory.
But six months before kickoff, some respected voices in soccer are asking a question FIFA doesn't want to hear: Should we even go?
Claude Le Roy, a legendary coach who won the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon and spent decades coaching across the continent, is calling for a boycott of the 2026 World Cup over Trump administration policies toward Africa.
"I wonder if we should not call for a boycott of the 2026 World Cup, given Donald Trump's behavior towards the African continent, with a FIFA president who prides himself on being by his side," Le Roy said. "The top leaders in soccer no longer talk about soccer, but only about money."
This isn't some fringe voice. Le Roy coached Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Congo-Brazzaville, and Togo over three decades. He's a respected elder statesman of African football. When he speaks, people listen.
His primary grievance? Trump administration cuts to NGOs operating in Africa, which Le Roy describes as "damaging Africa by killing NGOs. That is the tragedy of this continent."
But his anger extends beyond policy to FIFA's leadership. He specifically called out Gianni Infantino, noting the irony that Trump received FIFA's Peace Award from Infantino just weeks before announcing visa restrictions (though those restrictions ultimately don't affect World Cup attendees).
"Leaders at the highest level of football never talk about football again but only about money," Le Roy said, a damning indictment of FIFA's priorities.
He tried to raise these concerns at the CAF (Confederation of African Football) press conference but was repeatedly denied the microphone. "Everyone knew I would certainly not be complacent. My fight is not over yet," he said.
Now, let's be realistic - a full African boycott of the World Cup is extremely unlikely. National federations have spent years qualifying. Players dream of representing their countries on soccer's biggest stage. The financial and political costs would be enormous.
But the fact that these questions are being asked at all is FIFA's nightmare.
The World Cup is supposed to unite the world through sport. It's supposed to transcend politics. But when a respected figure like Le Roy says the moral cost of participating is too high, that's a problem FIFA can't ignore.
This puts African federations in an impossible position. Do they listen to voices like Le Roy's and consider a political stand? Or do they focus on soccer and give their players the World Cup experience they've earned?
And it puts FIFA in the uncomfortable position of defending its relationship with a U.S. administration whose policies toward Africa are being widely criticized.
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It's the biggest World Cup ever - 48 teams, 104 matches, three host nations.
But if African teams start seriously considering boycotts, it won't matter how big the tournament is. It'll be remembered as the World Cup tainted by politics FIFA couldn't navigate.
Le Roy's call for a boycott probably won't succeed. But it's already succeeded in one way - it's forced an uncomfortable conversation FIFA desperately wanted to avoid.
That's what sports is all about, folks - sometimes standing for principle means considering not playing at all.
