No Iran in the World Cup: When Politics Trumps Sport

Ed Berliner argues that Iran should be excluded from the 2026 World Cup because of its government’s role in sponsoring violence and the security and moral risks their presence could create, and it similarly questions Russia’s participation. It traces the long history of politics in sport—from the 1936 Olympics to Colin Kaepernick—and suggests using international competitions as a "carrot and stick" to encourage nations to earn their place while criticizing FIFA’s corruption and the broader politicization of global sports.