Ode to football: Can the FIFA World Cup bring peace to the world?
The Mail & Guardian | 03.06.2026 20:51
The FIFA World Cup begins on 11 June 2026, hosted across Canada, Mexico and the United States—the first time the tournament has been shared by three countries. It opens, however, in a world gripped by convulsions: war in the Middle East, war in Sudan, insecurity across the Sahel, and conflict and tension in many other regions. Even public health anxieties have not disappeared. At such a moment, any event that gathers humanity around a common spectacle carries a significance larger than entertainment. It reflects not only our vulnerabilities, but also our aspirations and our capacity for joy.
