Fútbol has always belonged to the people, no matter how deeply FIFA’s elites may want it to be otherwise. In this selection of articles, NACLA contributors cover the intersection of fútbol and politics from a wide variety of angles. Read on to learn more about historical attempts to boycott the World Cup; the way social movements have used the event as a means to advance their causes, and the ties between fútbol and historical memory in Latin America.
Our 2026 World Cup Coverage
Mexico 86 (Review)
Mexico 86 highlights the parallels between the 1986 and 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as the threads of corruption and scandal that bind them together.
The Teachers’ Strike, the World Cup, and the Struggle for Mexican Sovereignty
As Mexico co-hosts the World Cup, the CNTE fights a broader struggle over who controls the nation’s wealth, public institutions, and future.
“No Football Between The Concentration Camps”
The 1978 World Cup, hosted by Argentina’s military dictatorship, spawned powerful calls for a boycott, demands that echo today in the U.S. as social movements confront rising authoritarianism through fútbol.
While the World Shouts Goal, Mexico Seeks Its Disappeared
As the eyes of the world shifted to Mexico for the FIFA World Cup, the families of the thousands of disappeared tried to bring their plight to a global stage.
Why Mexico Welcomed Iran
After members of the Iranian national soccer team were denied visas by the Trump administration, Mexico stepped in to help—a decision rooted in shared histories.
The 2026 World Cup, ICE, and the Long Shadow of USA ‘94
The 2026 “Save the World Cup Act” Stirs Up Hidden Histories of Latino Immigration Activism during USA ‘94.
Previous Coverage
Feminist Fútbol and Historical Memory in Argentina
As Argentina marks 50 years since the beginning of its last bloody dictatorship, a feminist fútbol club in Buenos Aires …
Estadio Azteca and the 2026 World Cup in Mexico
Activists and residents surrounding the Azteca Stadium managed to suspend a proposed expansion, but concerns about mega-projects, gentrification, and defense …
Soccer Is Democratic. The World Cup Is Oligarchy.
Thousands of poor Brazilians were evicted from their homes to build multimillion-dollar World Cup stadiums that may never be used …
The World Cup and the Neoliberal Transformation of Brazilian Cities
As the World Cup approaches, Rio’s favelas experience new versions of neoliberal development, complete with gentrification, private security, and failed …