Canada

But anyone who expects FIFA to hold the U.S. accountable or to even consider the relocation of 2026's World Cup is setting themselves up for disappointment. FIFA's recent history shows exactly why. At face value, the deployment of U.S. troops to confront civilians should be a red line for FIFA. But there's already precedent in FIFA looking the other way on similar operations.

In the lead-up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Brazilian government established a Pacifying Police Unit to essentially target any suspected criminal in Rio de Janeiro’s sprawling favelas (slums). The "pacification" was a chilling misnomer as the UPP frequently engaged in violence and was accused of extrajudicial executions. Disappearances surged in the years leading up to the World Cup. Then, in March of 2014, Brazil sent in the actual military — 2,700 army soldiers — to occupy Rio's favelas through the end of July. Again, here was a country using its military as an occupying force against its own civilians, and FIFA didn't threaten Brazil's hosting status.

The 2018 World Cup saw FIFA allow Russia to host despite a government that’s known to violently quell dissent. This was before Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine, but Russian president Vladimir Putin had already annexed Crimea amid global outrage. Russia’s hosting privileges were also acquired through a massive bribery scandal, and Russia’s open hostility to the LGBTQ+ community had visitors concerned about their safety.

And, of course, there was the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where stadium infrastructure was built through modern-day slave labor that resulted in an estimated 6,500 deaths. FIFA ignored the global outcry about the tournament (acquired through the same corrupt means as Russia) and Qatar’s poor human rights record.