Warta Kema – Chants and songs, usually decorating the months before the World Cup, have been replaced. This year holds a distinct difference compared to every other year prior. The conversation surrounding 2026’s World Cup seems to be marred by scepticism and uncertainty regarding the safety of one of the host countries later in June-July. That host country being the United States of America (USA), whose recent political climate has left football fans feeling wary.

USA’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have become newly-‘physical’ enforcers under the current administration. They infamously have been arresting immigrants without due process and have amassed the general international public’s anxiety about travelling to the United States. In the past few months, many stories have come out about ICE agents reportedly arresting, imprisoning, as well as deporting people seemingly without concern for the legal rights under the 5th and 14th Amendments (rights such as a hearing before an immigration judge and the right to defend themselves against deportation, among others).

Enabled by the administration, ICE has allegedly been unpredictably detaining immigrants, or even just foreign-looking people, according to some discourse online. The disproportionate use of violence against ICE detainees has led to 17 deaths this year alone. Many foreign match-goers’ biggest fear is the possibility that ICE agents will be at World Cup events, as the enforcement has already been seen deployed at airports and other border sites.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)’s World Cup has also gradually accumulated criticism over the course of the past few months because of its president, Gianni Infantino’s seemingly biased or sycophantic behaviour. On December 5, 2025, United States (US) President Donald Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup Final Draw in Washington D.C., presented by Infantino. The award is supposedly to recognise Trump’s effort in achieving global peace. However, some netizens believe it to be a newly created honour to appease Trump after his failure to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This incident reaped public discussion about FIFA’s political neutrality.

Trump’s administration has also placed travel bans on multiple countries that are participating in the Cup. Exceptions to this ban only include team members and their staff, as well as immediate relatives. On the other hand, fans from these countries are still limited from attending the matches. These countries are Haiti, Senegal, Ivory Coast, and Iran. Iran holds a unique position, as the US is currently at war with the qualified country. Iran has stated they have a desire to ‘boycott’ the US over security concerns, but the team currently have continued their preparations and have not withdrawn.

Paolo Zampolli, a US special envoy for global partnerships, suggested that Italy (who did not qualify) should instead replace Iran. The opinion that Iran should not attend is backed by Donald Trump in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.

This proposal was rejected by Italian officials.

Various other opinions surround the upcoming event, not many of them positive. Many more conversations arise about the bizarre decisions that plague the general public’s wish to attend the quadrennial (once every four years) worldwide event. Whether that be harsh opinions on the inaugural half-time show that will take place, the debut of the ‘dynamic pricing’ system for matches (popular games costing more), pitch quality (that might affect athletes playing or injure them), or even trivial matters such as the drab World Cup anthem and logo.

All of these shortcomings become evident in the lack of travellers setting foot onto the “Land of the Free.” Plenty of US hotels have said that bookings are falling short of the original predictions and expectations.

So the question becomes: will there be a noticeable lack of cheer, chants and songs at the moderately anticipated football competition?

Reporter: Listra Yesarela Muskananfola

Editor: Elga Thalita Perangin Angin, Khayla Dinda Pradwina, Fernaldhy Rossi Armanda