๐จ๐ฃ๏ธNew: Luis Suรกrez reacts to Uruguayโs arrival in the United States for the World Cup, where the squad faced sniffer dogs and rigorous security checks:
โIโve been in football a long time, and Iโve seen tournaments all over the world. But what weโre witnessing here with the USA hosting this World Cup is deeply concerning. Take the Uruguay team arriving โ world-class players like Manuel Ugarte, standing there with arms folded, looking utterly bewildered as sniffer dogs go through their bags like theyโre common criminals. That image says it all. These are ambassadors of the game, not suspects at the border.
This isnโt hospitality; itโs humiliation dressed up as security. Youโve got a Somali referee, one of Africaโs best, denied entry despite a valid visa โ a man who dreamed of officiating at the pinnacle of his career, turned away at the airport. African and South American delegations facing extra screenings, visa chaos for fans and officials from qualified nations. This is the โland of the freeโ rolling out the red carpet? It feels more like a fortress with razor wire.
The beautiful game deserves better than being turned into a political football or a paranoid checkpoint. FIFA chased the dollars โ and there are billions to be made, no doubt โ but theyโve sold the soul of the tournament to a host that treats global football stars and supporters like potential threats. Meanwhile, American taxpayers and host cities are left holding a bill running into hundreds of millions for security and logistics that FIFA largely pockets.
Football has always been about unity, passion, and bringing people together across borders. Right now, under this hosting, itโs being strangled by suspicion and overreach. The world is watching these scenes and cringing. If this continues, it risks leaving a bitter taste that lingers far longer than any on-pitch glory. We needed a celebration of the game โ not a showcase of division. Something has to change.โ