The FIFA World Cup as a Clash of Cultures, Customs, and Social Norms, and as a Tool of Soft Power

The FIFA World Cup is an event that, every four years, captures the attention of both die-hard fans and people who are less interested in soccer on a day-to-day basis. The tournament itself and the period leading up to it generate a vast amount of information regarding the organizers’ preparations, visiting fans’ encounters with other cultures, national team rosters, bans, cultural norms, and political issues. The popularity of soccer and the widespread availability of television make this event a global media phenomenon. It is estimated that approximately 1.5 billion people watched the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, setting an all-time record—and projections indicate that future editions may surpass this figure.

Controversy Surrounding the 2018 World Cup in Russia

Despite the sporting nature of the event, such a massive gathering cannot take place without controversy. In the case of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the main sources of tension were the annexation of Crimea and the aggression in Donbas. Additionally, no member of the British government or the royal family attended the tournament following the assassination attempt on double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, carried out by members of Russian intelligence.

Another problem was widespread racism within Russian fan groups. A particularly high-profile incident occurred during a Champions League match, when CSKA Moscow fans racially abused Yaya Touré, a Manchester City player from the Ivory Coast. Touré later suggested that if Russia did not take action against racism, some players might boycott the World Cup.

Controversy Surrounding the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

The World Cup in Qatar was also fraught with tension, stemming primarily from the cultural differences between the Arab world and the West. The restrictive rules of Sharia law, particularly those affecting women, made the trip to Qatar a difficult experience for many fans.

The very choice of Qatar as the host country raised doubts. The country lacks a soccer tradition comparable to that of European or South American nations. Officially, this decision was explained as a desire to bring the Arab and Western worlds closer together, but numerous reports pointed to corruption and “donations” made to FIFA.

Qatar was also not infrastructure-ready—new stadiums were built in a short period of time, which resulted in appalling working conditions for the people constructing them. According to Qatar, three workers died, while independent investigations by NGOs and the media point to as many as 6,500 fatalities. The lack of worker documentation and the Qatari authorities’ reluctance to cooperate raised suspicions of forced labor, primarily involving workers from India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Additionally, Qatar banned the sale of alcohol at stadiums, citing Islamic principles, which many fans viewed as a significant restriction.

Controversy Surrounding the Current World Championships

This year’s championship was not without its problems either. In the months leading up to the tournament, riots broke out in Guadalajara, where, following the murder of one of the cartel’s leaders, its members took to the streets, killing people and setting cars on fire.

The United States, as the main host, has also been a source of numerous tensions. The Iranian national team is participating in the tournament under special conditions—it is based in Mexico and flies to the U.S. only for matches, leaving the country the same day. The Trump administration attributes this to a potential threat posed by the Iranian players.

In addition, the Iran–Egypt match in Seattle was declared a “Pride Match,” which sparked huge controversy, as both countries are predominantly Muslim and enforce Sharia law, which prohibits homosexuality and often punishes it with death.

U.S. authorities also denied entry to Somali judge Omar Artan, citing suspicions that he was collaborating with the terrorist organization Al-Shabab. Somalia is on the U.S. list of countries subject to additional immigration restrictions. The presence of ICE agents at stadiums has also drawn opposition from some members of the public.

American influence on the World Cup once again became apparent when, following the Round of 32 match between the U.S. and Bosnia and Herzegovina, FIFA decided to lift the suspension imposed on American player Folarin Balogun, who had earlier received a red card during the match for a brutal foul. FIFA cited its disciplinary regulations, which stipulate that if Balogun commits another similar offense within a year, the penalty will be enforced. According to an anonymous report, this decision was made following a private phone call between President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The lifting of the suspension for a key player on the U.S. national team has drawn negative reactions from many coaches and players, particularly from the Royal Belgian Football Association, since the United States is set to play its next match against Belgium—a game in which Balogun should not be allowed to play. The Belgian national team coach likened this situation to a joke.

American consumerism is also clearly evident. From the start of the tournament, there have been discussions about tipping culture. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour, but for workers who rely on tips, it’s only $2.13. For this reason, a 20% tip is the norm, and failing to tip is considered rude. Many visitors were not accustomed to such customs, so some restaurants began automatically adding 20% to the bill as a service charge.

Another problem is the cost—tickets for the current World Cup are extremely expensive, and FIFA’s official website allows tickets to be resold for up to three times the face value. Mandatory water breaks for players have also been introduced, which in the U.S. are used by FOX to air commercials—an example of the tournament’s “Americanization.”

FIFA’s announcement of a musical concert during halftime of the final—modeled after the Super Bowl’s “Halftime Show”—has been met with a similar reaction, which has not gone over well with traditional soccer fans.

Conclusion:

These examples show that, despite FIFA’s efforts, the World Cup—which is supposed to be a time of unity through a shared love of sports and one’s own nations—often becomes an arena for racial, ethnic, and cultural conflicts. The scale of the event does not make other problems disappear; on the contrary, it can highlight or exacerbate them.