Mexico President Assures Safety for Visitors
One reason Infantino was willing to back Mexico was President Claudia Sheinbaum's strong words.
Mexico’s President shared that there would be “no risk” for visiting fans. While cartel violence is all too common in the country and local soccer matches have been postponed, the World Cup will be different. Millions are being spent on securing the host cities during the tournament, ensuring the country can put its best foot forward.
While Sheinbaum has reason to fight to keep the matches in Mexico, it appears she has given FIFA enough confidence to move forward.
Will Other Countries Protest?
FIFA may publicly be confident in Mexico's security, but countries sending teams and fans to those host cities may not feel the same. Countries like Korea and South Africa could have safety concerns, along with Czechia and Denmark, which will fight to qualify next month.
None of those countries are soccer powerhouse, but they could have pulled with FIFA. If they protest, it could lead FIFA to move matches to safer cities in the country or send them to their northern neighbors.
FIFA Faces Difficult Choice
On its face, moving the matches out of Mexico seems like an obvious decision. However, the country has spent a fortune preparing for its hosting duties. Mexican fans are known for their love of the sport, and would be crushed if matches were sent north.
Mexico isn’t the only host causing FIFA headaches. There is a growing call for countries to boycott the tournament due to tensions with the USA. Moving matches to the there could spark more support for a boycott, leading to disaster for FIFA and all three host countries.
