You don’t boycott the World Cup, that would be unfair on Canada and Mexico.
You let European football fans do god’s own work via the chants, especially when he’s in the stadiums.
No, we boycott it
And I say this as a Leaver!
We boycott it in alliance with our European friends and our siblings in Canada and Oz. America cannot march around invading sovereign territory of peaceful allies, no more than Russia can. Fuck that shit
America has justifiable complaints about European weakness and inability to stop mass immigration. But Denmark actually leads the way in its bravery and its willingness to defend European civilisation against barbaric hordes of migrants
This is Trumpism at its most ludicrously stupid. We need to say STOP, and to make that painful, not just a bleat. A boycott would do that
Jürgen Hardt appears to be the German equivalent of, "a senior backbencher," i.e. politically a nobody.
I'm glad that at least one politician, somewhere, is talking about it, but it's not quite, "being threatened," yet.
If America takes Greenland by force, I predict the EU - at least - will boycott the World Cup
I would have to check the numbers, but if the EU (sans Hungary and Slovakia obvs.) took that view I'd guess you'd be pretty close to a majority in UEFA, at which point the boycott is by UEFA, and UEFA stage an alternative competition.
So there are 55 members of UEFA, and 27 members of the EU, plus the UK counts as five in UEFA, and Denmark counts double with the Faroes, and there are other UEFA associations closely associated with EU member states (e.g. San Marino).
So if the EU (exc. the traitors) are all onboard they would win a vote at UEFA.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
Its not that simple though. You need hotels (teams and fans). You need training facilities (ok lots of very good ones around the country). You need the grounds and that stops any club that is renewing its pitch over the summer etc. You need the police on board.
Clearly could be done, but don't underestimate the challenge.
That's why I'm saying planning should start today. And make a song and dance about it, too.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
@maxseddon Trump also invited Belarus' Alexander Lukashenko to the "Board of Peace," per this letter. He describes it as "the most impressive and consequential Board ever assembled."
Good grief ! He’s now trolling the rest of the world . Why didn’t he invite Kim Jong Un to complete the parade of scum ?
G9od afternoon
You really couldnt make this up
Its like some weird surreal world but it not
It is very scary
What's even more scary is that a large part of the US population is apparently behind him all the way.
Only about 35%.
Still massive but not election winning if the rest are sensible when they place their votes.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
Sounds brilliant. FIFA is to world football what Trump is to world politics anyway.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
If it's the EU nations... Do they need FIFA more than the other way round? Remember. That would mean all players who play in the EU blacklisted. Which means everyone of any consequence.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
It wouldn't be the first time that everyone has just left a dead org and set up a new one to replace it.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
Its not that simple though. You need hotels (teams and fans). You need training facilities (ok lots of very good ones around the country). You need the grounds and that stops any club that is renewing its pitch over the summer etc. You need the police on board.
Clearly could be done, but don't underestimate the challenge.
Britain would find it easier than cancelling Ajax.
Plus, also, there's lots of planning being done for Britain and Ireland to host the Euros in 2028, so you'd probably be able to pick up a lot of the work done for that.
Sky defence expert saying if Trump takes Greenland by economic or military means, NATO would become a zombie and Europe would go through a collective nervous breakdown
I have to say this is more frightening than the Cuban missile crises which I remember well, and really thought nucleur war was possible
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
Jürgen Hardt appears to be the German equivalent of, "a senior backbencher," i.e. politically a nobody.
I'm glad that at least one politician, somewhere, is talking about it, but it's not quite, "being threatened," yet.
If America takes Greenland by force, I predict the EU - at least - will boycott the World Cup
I would have to check the numbers, but if the EU (sans Hungary and Slovakia obvs.) took that view I'd guess you'd be pretty close to a majority in UEFA, at which point the boycott is by UEFA, and UEFA stage an alternative competition.
So there are 55 members of UEFA, and 27 members of the EU, plus the UK counts as five in UEFA, and Denmark counts double with the Faroes, and there are other UEFA associations closely associated with EU member states (e.g. San Marino).
So if the EU (exc. the traitors) are all onboard they would win a vote at UEFA.
The UK doesn't count as five in UEFA.
England, Gibraltar, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are all members of UEFA.
On the subject of using the World Cup to exert pressure on the US, I would use FIFA as my conduit.
I would let Infantino know that if the World Cup were to go ahead in the US post an invasion Greenland, then there would be a non-FIFA sponsored football tournament in Europe, containing all the European teams (except possibly Hungary) and probably including Brazil and a few other countries who have had no issue tweaking Trump's nose.
I would point out that this would effectively mean the end of FIFA, and those billions in "perks" the executives get would come to an end. I would also point out that it was FIFA who gave Trump the absurd peace prize.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
The UK also has half the votes on IFAB. To move against us would split the game.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
FIFA is fuck all without UEFA, and they know it
Could football fans of the world unite in praise for Donald Trump, for finally being the guy to take down one of the most hated institutions of recent times?
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
It would technically be possible, but the political fallout would be immense. Everyone involved would be kicked out of FIFA.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
Honestly boycotting the World Cup would be the most effective and probably the least disruptive of all of the options available to Europe. I’m not sure how you can send teams and fans to contribute to a spectacle designed entirely to celebrate a guy trying to invade your territory.
I agree with this
The Americans are really excited about the World Cup. I just did a World Cup road trip to 3 different hosting cities - LA, SF, Seattle. It’s a big deal, commercially, culturally, socially. Trump is cosy with FIFA, he wants a grand spectacle, etc
If all the European teams pulled out that would totally ruin the tournament, lose lots of money for lots of people, and be a real slap in the face for Trump
Bit tough on Mexico and Canada, but if Europe REALLY wants to hurt Trump and demonstrate some soft power, this is it. There is nothing else as potent
Bit unfair on LA, SF and Seattle all of which voted for Harris and the Democrats in 2024.
Most Trump voters in Texas and Florida and the Midwest and rustbelt I suspect see soccer as mainly a game for kids and Hispanics, they couldn't care less about the World Cup for soccer, they are American Football fans, like rugby here for some seen as the more manly of the big ball games. The Superbowl being cancelled would devastate Trump fans, Trump himself attended the last one, the soccer WC, not much
Trump has been threatening to remove the games from Dem cities/states anyway, and they have ICE randomly murdering and abducting people in those cities. From reddit (I know, I know), most US soccer fans would be absolutely delighted if we told FIFA and Trump to fuck off, especially if mentioned ICE as part of the reason for it.
We do have one other option. His golf courses - but he might actually nuke us if we did that. "Clinton Turnberry" and "Obama Balmedie" for the lolz.
Yes Trump losing his golf courses and resorts would hit him far more
We need them for our security?
It wouldn’t be too difficult to reinstate RAF Turnberry. The runways are mostly still intact, although unfortunately 😄 the golf course would have to be sacrificed. It could be made suitable for RAF attacks on Thule, Mildenhall or Lakenheath if needed.
I have a genuine problem with listening to Starmer speak: his whiny voice means I forget what he says a few moments after he says it, so I am in no position to say whether it was good or bad. So I'll leave that up to you.
My prejudices regarding his character lead me to think it'll be bad: perhaps somebody can persuade me otherwise but looking at the comments so far I doubt it.
The style, not the voice, that Starmer seems unable to avoid is the same as Major. Bathos. Addressing the nation this morning on a major threat to world peace and world order and 80 years of western foreign and military policy he did OK, but can't avoid drifting off into domestic stuff about the cost of living and prices at the pumps or cones hotlines or something. He is absolutely anti-climactic. "Lower gas prices and breakfast clubs in our time".
OTOH thirty years on Major is still quite well regarded. Perhaps Starmer will be too.
Starmer (& Sunak) were preceded by Johnson and Truss and will be followed by Farage. The comparison will flatter S&S to a degree that is not warranted.
Don't kid yourself. Starmer's ratings are below Truss's at their worst, and so they should be.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
Its not that simple though. You need hotels (teams and fans). You need training facilities (ok lots of very good ones around the country). You need the grounds and that stops any club that is renewing its pitch over the summer etc. You need the police on board.
Clearly could be done, but don't underestimate the challenge.
Britain would find it easier than cancelling Ajax.
Plus, also, there's lots of planning being done for Britain and Ireland to host the Euros in 2028, so you'd probably be able to pick up a lot of the work done for that.
Cancelling Ajax would be easy. It just means admitting it's a complete ballsup.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
Its not that simple though. You need hotels (teams and fans). You need training facilities (ok lots of very good ones around the country). You need the grounds and that stops any club that is renewing its pitch over the summer etc. You need the police on board.
Clearly could be done, but don't underestimate the challenge.
Britain would find it easier than cancelling Ajax.
Plus, also, there's lots of planning being done for Britain and Ireland to host the Euros in 2028, so you'd probably be able to pick up a lot of the work done for that.
Cancelling Ajax would be easy. It just means admitting it's a complete ballsup.
From what I understand, various parties are running round in circles, faster and faster, telling ministers they can't possibly cancel Ajax.
Humphrey: "We'd have to get clearances! Security implications! Foreign powers, national interests. We have to consult our allies, top brass. NATO, SEATO, Moscow!"
It appears a number of senior figures nailed their trousers to the mast head on this one. By signing off that Ajax was AOK. Which would make the cancellation charges huge.
Kemi Badenoch calls a meeting of her mps tonight at 6.00pm to demand loyalty or for those who won't to invite them to leave
That is a little bit Starmeresque. N'est pas?
The Tory party is a coalition of the willing or it is nothing. So she's probably doing the right thing in asking them to commit.
At the very least it forces the issue - and if anyone hangs on for a month or so and then defects, then it publicly outs them as another dissembling arse like Jenrick.
I'm neither a Tory nor a Badenoch fan, but good for her.
I am still convinced we could and should be tentatively scheduling an alternative World Cup in the UK for any teams which boycott. We have all the facilities and infrastructure ready to go.
Its not that simple though. You need hotels (teams and fans). You need training facilities (ok lots of very good ones around the country). You need the grounds and that stops any club that is renewing its pitch over the summer etc. You need the police on board.
Clearly could be done, but don't underestimate the challenge.
Britain would find it easier than cancelling Ajax.
Plus, also, there's lots of planning being done for Britain and Ireland to host the Euros in 2028, so you'd probably be able to pick up a lot of the work done for that.
Cancelling Ajax would be easy. It just means admitting it's a complete ballsup.
From what I understand, various parties are running round in circles, faster and faster, telling ministers they can't possibly cancel Ajax.
Humphrey: "We'd have to get clearances! Security implications! Foreign powers, national interests. We have to consult our allies, top brass. NATO, SEATO, Moscow!"
It appears a number of senior figures nailed their trousers to the mast head on this one. By signing off that Ajax was AOK. Which would make the cancellation charges huge.
Time for them to be hit on the head with some accountability then.
They were given a contract to deliver a bunch of vehicles, so deliver the bunch of vehicles, to spec, or return the advance.
@maxseddon Trump also invited Belarus' Alexander Lukashenko to the "Board of Peace," per this letter. He describes it as "the most impressive and consequential Board ever assembled."
Good grief ! He’s now trolling the rest of the world . Why didn’t he invite Kim Jong Un to complete the parade of scum ?
He's charging $1 billion a seat. He's gone doolally and all the world can see it. Including Republican Senators.
Off topic, but more important than any subject discussed recently: Judging by this Wkipedia article, PEPFAR is damaged, but may be recovering:
The United States President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the global health funding by the United States to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic and help save the lives of those suffering from the disease. As of 2023, PEPFAR has saved over 25 million lives,[1][2] primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. . . . In 2025, the second administration of President Donald Trump put USAID on a 90-day freeze which involved putting PEPFAR on halt and taking its computer systems offline.[7] Later, on January 28, 2025, the Trump administration granted a waiver for essential medicines and medical services which included HIV medicines.[8]
However, it was later estimated that only about 50% of PEPFAR programs restarted in February.[9][10][11] In July, The Lancet published a study about impacts of the funding freeze,[12] but the full impacts were still unknown as of September.
Given globalization, which is not going away, however much some may wish so, it is in our interest to control infectious diseases wherever they begin.
Unfortunately, a sensible person has to be skeptical about Wikipedia in recent years, and Lancet for longer.
(For some time I have been fascinated by the ignorance about PEPFAR in Western populations -- and the unwilingness to give it signficant coverage by most news organizations -- definitely including the BBC.)
Comments
And I say this as a Leaver!
We boycott it in alliance with our European friends and our siblings in Canada and Oz. America cannot march around invading sovereign territory of peaceful allies, no more than Russia can. Fuck that shit
America has justifiable complaints about European weakness and inability to stop mass immigration. But Denmark actually leads the way in its bravery and its willingness to defend European civilisation against barbaric hordes of migrants
This is Trumpism at its most ludicrously stupid. We need to say STOP, and to make that painful, not just a bleat. A boycott would do that
And make a song and dance about it, too.
Bessent as jingoistic as ever and adding Europe would be unwise to retaliate
Tory frontbencher in Lords, at despatch box, accuses Donald Trump of being mad.
There’s a massive difference between a political boycott and a rival tournament.
Still massive but not election winning if the rest are sensible when they place their votes.
Do they need FIFA more than the other way round?
Remember. That would mean all players who play in the EU blacklisted.
Which means everyone of any consequence.
Trump to NBC: Norway "totally controls" the Nobel Prize committee "despite what they say"
Plus, also, there's lots of planning being done for Britain and Ireland to host the Euros in 2028, so you'd probably be able to pick up a lot of the work done for that.
I have to say this is more frightening than the Cuban missile crises which I remember well, and really thought nucleur war was possible
I would let Infantino know that if the World Cup were to go ahead in the US post an invasion Greenland, then there would be a non-FIFA sponsored football tournament in Europe, containing all the European teams (except possibly Hungary) and probably including Brazil and a few other countries who have had no issue tweaking Trump's nose.
I would point out that this would effectively mean the end of FIFA, and those billions in "perks" the executives get would come to an end. I would also point out that it was FIFA who gave Trump the absurd peace prize.
https://bsky.app/profile/shadow.hedgie.social/post/3mcrz2zm5hk2t
No, you don't have to.
It just means admitting it's a complete ballsup.
NEW THREAD
Humphrey: "We'd have to get clearances! Security implications! Foreign powers, national interests. We have to consult our allies, top brass. NATO, SEATO, Moscow!"
It appears a number of senior figures nailed their trousers to the mast head on this one. By signing off that Ajax was AOK. Which would make the cancellation charges huge.
A lot of countries really resent the UK having four international teams.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43183023
So she's probably doing the right thing in asking them to commit.
At the very least it forces the issue - and if anyone hangs on for a month or so and then defects, then it publicly outs them as another dissembling arse like Jenrick.
I'm neither a Tory nor a Badenoch fan, but good for her.
They were given a contract to deliver a bunch of vehicles, so deliver the bunch of vehicles, to spec, or return the advance.
Given globalization, which is not going away, however much some may wish so, it is in our interest to control infectious diseases wherever they begin.
Unfortunately, a sensible person has to be skeptical about Wikipedia in recent years, and Lancet for longer.
(For some time I have been fascinated by the ignorance about PEPFAR in Western populations -- and the unwilingness to give it signficant coverage by most news organizations -- definitely including the BBC.)