When FIFA announced the USA as co-host for World Cup 2026, one of the first things I thought of was the gun violence problem here and the shadow it casts over large public gatherings, like parades and watch parties. There were reportedly hundreds of police at the parade yesterday and it didn't stop a determined shooter from killing and maiming. Of course it didn't.
There are a lot of people in this country that still view football/soccer as "liberal", "elitist", and symbolic of "globalism". And they don't like foreigners, especially non-white foreigners. And a gathering of liberals and foreigners at an outdoor (or indoor) watch party, or outside stadia makes a soft and juicy target for a white nationalist MAGA maniac.
It would be beyond tragic if there were a mass slaughter of football/soccer fans at the World Cup.
If I were flying in from abroad to attend a game, or just soak up the vibes, I'd probably go to Canada or Mexico and avoid the USA altogether, or at least avoid the matches in states with lax gun laws, like Missouri.
And if I were determined to see my team at a match in person, even in a Republican state with armed, partisan maniacs in a volatile political environment, I might consider buying a flak jacket.