Widespread refusal of spectators to attend the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup has led to broad public sensation. According to information from the organizers, approximately 17 thousand fans returned their tickets. This decision is explained by a protest against the foreign policy of the United States of America, which, together with Canada and Mexico, will host the Mundial scheduled from June 11 to July 19.
The Czech hockey veteran, Olympic champion, and Stanley Cup winner Dominik Hasek reacted to this situation. In his social media post, he wrote that 17 thousand canceled tickets is an insufficient number. He characterized the USA as a nation where, in his view, democratic institutions are declining, while violence and repression are flourishing. Hasek stated that a state not respecting the norms of international law has no moral right to host a football World Cup or the Olympic Games.
“17 thousand revoked tickets for the football World Cup? That’s not enough! A country where democracy withers, and brutality and suppression thrive, a nation that disregards international law, should not host the World Cup or the Olympics,” Hasek wrote.
In the former goalie’s opinion, such actions by fans reflect the depth of distrust in the political direction of the American administration. He emphasized that hosting planetary-scale tournaments demands an impeccable international reputation from the organizing nation. Hasek expressed his firm belief that a state whose actions elicit serious criticism from the global community cannot act as the host of major global sports gatherings.
Dominik Hasek is known not only for his athletic accomplishments but also for his stark anti-Russian statements, including demands for the complete exclusion of Russian athletes from all international competitions.
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