Mohamed Shabana: 2026 World Cup May Be the Worst in History

Mohamed Shabana, a prominent media figure, expressed concerns regarding the reception of national teams at major tournaments, stating that the traditional welcoming gestures of flowers, chocolates, and enthusiastic crowds at airports have been notably absent during the preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.

During a segment on the program ‘Number One’ aired on CBC, Shabana remarked, “The way America is receiving the participating teams does not befit the stature of such a prestigious tournament, especially with reports suggesting it could be one of the worst editions in World Cup history.”.

He further noted that while Qatar faced significant backlash for restricting certain slogans during their World Cup, including public protests from German players, a similar reaction has not been observed regarding incidents in the U.S. He cited examples of several international stars undergoing stringent security checks at airports without any notable public outcry.

Shabana criticized the U.S. approach to the tournament, suggesting it treats the event as a personal affair rather than an international competition governed by FIFA. He pointed out that FIFA appears unable to intervene or take decisive action against these occurrences.

He also highlighted an incident involving a Somali referee who was removed from the tournament after enduring an 11-hour interrogation at the airport, deeming such situations unprecedented in major sporting events.

In conclusion, Shabana stated, “The World Cup in America has taken on political dimensions that extend beyond sports. We have not witnessed such circumstances before in significant sporting events. It seems FIFA lacks the capacity to object to these issues, and I hope they clarify to the public what benefits they will gain from hosting the tournament in America compared to what they achieved during the Qatar World Cup.”.