>> NOW KICKOFF FOR THE MEN'S FIFA WORLD CUP IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

BUT SEVERAL CONTROVERSIES ARE ALREADY CLOUDING THE TOURNAMENT.

AFRICA'S TOP REFEREE WILL MISS THE WORLD CUP AFTER THE U. S. DENIED HIS VISA, CITING VETTING CONCERNS.

UNEASE IS ALSO GROWING IN THE U. S. FOLLOWING REPORTS ON THE POSSIBLE PRESENCE OF ICE AGENTS AT WORLD CUP EVENTS.

THE AUTHOR OF RED CARD AND A FORMER PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER SAYS, THIS LOCAL BACKDROP COULD TARNISH HOW THE WORLD CUP IS REMEMBERED.

HE JOINS TO EXPLAIN.

>> JEWELS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

EACH WORLD CUP WE HAVE A CONVERSATION SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THIS.

WE HAVE TALKED BEFORE, THE LAST WORLD CUP IN QATAR, THE CHALLENGES , LABOR VIOLATIONS, WHAT QATAR HAD TO DO TO GET THAT WORLD CUP ON.

FOR THAT, IT WAS VLADIMIR PUTIN.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THIS ON RUSSIAN SOIL, SO TO SPEAK?

AND I WONDER, NOW, IN THIS CONTEXT, YOU WRITE THAT THE 2026 WORLD CUP IS NOT ONLY THE MOST POLITICALLY COMBUSTIBLE TOURNAMENT IN MODERN HISTORY, ALSO ON TRACK TO BE THE MOST POLLUTING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL COMBUSTION RIGHT NOW.

WHAT MAKES YOU SAY THAT?

>> I WOULD SAY THE THROUGH LINE BETWEEN THOSE THREE TOURNAMENTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED, RUSSIA WORLD CUP IN 2018, QATAR IN 2022 , AND THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND MEXICO IN 2026, IS THE IDEA OF SPORTS WASHING.

WHEN POLITICAL LEADERS USE SPORTS TO THEIR POLITICAL ADVANTAGE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK IMPORTANT OR LEGITIMATE ON THE WORLD STAGE WHILE DEFLECTING ATTENTION FROM CHRONIC SOCIAL PROBLEMS AT HOME .

AND SETTING UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLITICAL , ECONOMIC AND DIPLOMATIC ADVANCEMENT.

AND THAT TERM WAS USED A LOT, SPORTS WASHING, WHEN PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT WASHINGTON IN QATAR.

AND FOR GOOD REASONS.

THEY WERE USING THAT EVENT TO MAKE POLITICAL ECONOMIC GAIN.

BUT THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES AS WELL.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS MADE IT CLEAR.

HE'S SAID IT MANY TIMES THE PUBLIC.

THE WORLD CUP AND THE 2028 OLYMPICS IN LOS ANGELES ARE CRUCIAL TO HIS LEGACY.

I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT, WHO IS SET ON USING SPORTS TO HIS POLITICAL ADVANTAGE IN CHARGE, AND IT MUST BE SAID, HE'S A HIGHLY ERRATIC INDIVIDUAL.

HE CAN BE IMPULSIVE AT TIMES.

AND HE LOVES ATTENTION.

THAT REALLY SETS UP A RECIPE THAT COULD CREATE PROBLEMS FOR THIS EVENT.

NORMALLY, PEOPLE TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THE SPORT AT HAND ONCE THE EVENT FINALLY STARTS AND WE PUT THOSE PROBLEMS BEHIND US.

I'M NOT SO SURE THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THIS TIME AROUND.

>> ONE OF THE BIG CONVERSATIONS IS HOW SAFE THE UNITED STATES MIGHT BE FOR FANS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY DIFFERING IMMIGRATION POLICY, VISA POLICY DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE FROM , WHAT COUNTRY YOU'RE FROM.

ACTING I. C. E. DIRECTOR SAID, I. C. E. SPECIFICALLY HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS IS A KEY PART OF THE SECURITY APPARATUS FOR THE WORLD CUP.

WE ARE DEDICATED TO SECURING THAT OPERATION AND TO ENSURING THE SAFETY OF ALL PARTICIPANTS AND VISITORS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN IN PRACTICE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS COMING FROM OVERSEAS?

>> REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION.

I THINK THIS POINTS TO THE WIDER PARADOX AROUND THIS EVENT.

ON ONE HAND, IT'S THE BIGGEST WORLD CUP EVER.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE COMING FROM AROUND THE WORLD .

IN SOME WAYS, IN THAT SENSE, IT'S THE MOST INCLUSIVE.

ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION IN REGARDS TO IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES WHERE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS MAKING IT CLEAR THAT SOME ARE NOT WELCOME.

THEN, IF YOU DO GET HERE, YOU HAVE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.

LET'S BE HONEST , THEY HAVE BEEN MARAUDING THROUGH NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE UNITED STATES.

MASKED UP .

THEY HAVE ACTUALLY KILLED PEOPLE WHO ARE U. S. CITIZENS.

THEY HAVE DETAINED, FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, NATIVE AMERICANS.

THE LEVEL OF IRONY THERE IS OFF THE CHARTS.

THERE ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS THAT TOURISTS COMING TO UNITED STATES MIGHT EXPERIENCE HASSLE FROM IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, AS YOU RIGHTLY POINT OUT, PEOPLE AT I. C. E. HAVE SAID THEY WILL BE CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES AT THIS TOURNAMENT.

ANOTHER THING I THINK IS WORTH CONSIDERING IS WHILE ALL OF THE GLOBAL MEDIA ARE FOCUSED ON THESE HOST CITIES AND WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE, YOU HAVE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ARE WANTING TO SUPPORT THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY CAME FROM.

HAITI, IRAQ, YOU NAME IT.

AND PLACES FAR AWAY FROM WHERE THE GLOBAL MEDIA ACTUALLY ARE.

IN THE SMALL CORNERS OF WISCONSIN.

I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY BE A MAGNET FOR I. C. E. WHEN THEY WILL ENGAGE WITH RATING THERE.

WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE JUST TRYING TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY THE TOURNAMENT.

>> --INTERNATIONAL VISITORS WHO COME TO THE UNITED STATES LEGALLY SHOULD HAVE NO CONCERNS, BUT THEY WARNED THAT THOSE WHO ENTER THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY BECOME TARGETS FOR IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.

THE SPOKESPERSON WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER ICE WOULD CONDUCT IMMIGRATION ARRESTS AT THE WORLD CUP.

ONE OF YOUR CONCERNS HAS ALSO BEEN ABOUT THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF THESE GAMES VERSUS PREVIOUS ONES.

FIFA, THEY SAY, THEY WANT TO BE NET ZERO BY 2040 BUT RESEARCHERS ARE SAYING THAT THIS PARTICULAR TOURNAMENT IS GOING TO GENERATE MORE THAN 9 MILLION TONS OF CO2 , NEARLY DOUBLE WHAT RECENT WORLD CUP'S HAVE.

JUST PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE FOR US.

I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT GAMES NOW THAT ARE IN CANADA, MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES.

THERE'S PEOPLE FLYING FROM ALL OVER TO THESE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND FLYING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE GAMES.

>> THE REASON WHY YOU ARE SEEING SCIENTISTS JUMP UP AND DOWN ABOUT THOSE JAW-DROPPING EMISSION NUMBERS THAT YOU MENTIONED IS BECAUSE FANS NEED TO TRAVEL OVER VAST GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSE TO ATTEND MATCHES IN MEXICO, CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES.

ALSO, THE UNITED STATES SIMPLY DOESN'T HAVE A STRONG TRAIN SYSTEM.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE FLYING FROM MATCH TO MATCH.

THEREBY, JACKING UP THE ADMISSIONS.

AT THE BIGGER PICTURE, FIFA HAS A REAL PROBLEM WITH GREENWASHING, WHICH IS TO SAY, TALKING A BIG'S GREEN SUSTAINABILITY GAME BUT NOT ACTUALLY FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE GROUND.

WE SAW THIS IN QATAR, WHERE THEY SAID THERE WILL BE A CARBON NEUTRAL GAME.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WHAT YOU CAN SAY ABOUT QATAR IS THAT ONCE YOU GOT THERE YOU CAN GO AROUND THE DIFFERENT MATCHES ON A METRO AND HAVE ADMISSIONS BE RELATIVELY LOW.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE HERE.

SO WHILE WE HAVE STADIUMS THAT WERE BUILT, THEREBY KEEPING CARBON EMISSIONS LOW, PEOPLE'S TRAVEL BUDGETS ARE GOING TO BE REALLY HIGH.

I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF FIFA SAYING ONE THING AND DOING ANOTHER.

I THINK PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, MEXICO HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS EXAMPLES OF THIS LEADING TO THE TOURNAMENT.

>> HAD A FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI AND FONTENOT SAID, WHETHER WE SPEAK ABOUT CLIMATE, HUMAN RIGHTS, DISEASES OR DISABILITIES, WE ARE COMMITTED TO FIFA TO PLAY OUR PART IN RESPECT TO THE FACT THAT FIFA HAS 211 MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENTING THE ENTIRE WORLD .

FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T FOLLOW FIFA AND WORLD CUP SOCCER VERY MUCH, TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT GIANNI AND FONTENOT.

>> GIANNI AND FONTENOT BECAME THE PRESIDENT AFTER THE HUGE CORRUPTION SCANDAL THAT HIT THE WORLD'S GOVERNING BODY IN 2016 AND 2015.

HE PROMISED HE WOULD CLEAN UP THE GAME AND MAKE IT MORE EQUITABLE.

UNFORTUNATELY, HE IS ESSENTIALLY CRANKING UP THE FIFA GREEN MACHINE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

HE IS ON TRACK TO MAKE $11 BILLION FROM THIS TOURNAMENT ALONE.

MAKING IT THE MOST REVENUE OF ANY SPORTING EVENT IN SPORTING HISTORY.

NOW MR.

INFANTINO, IF YOU ASKED HIM THAT, HE SAID WE WILL REDISTRIBUTE THAT MONEY AROUND THE WORLD.

THERE IS SOME TRUTH TO THAT.

HE SENDS MONEY TO DIFFERENT FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS OR FAA'S AROUND THE WORLD IN ALL 211 MEMBER STATES.

THE OTHER TRUTH IS MR.

INFANTINO MAKES GOOD MONEY HIMSELF.

HE GAVE HIMSELF A RAISE.

HE MAKES $6 MILLION A YEAR .

IF YOU ARE ON THE POWERFUL FIFA COUNCIL THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THIS REFORM MECHANISM, YOU CAN MAKE BETWEEN $250,000 AND $300,000 A YEAR FOR SIMPLY ATTENDING 2 TO 4 MEETINGS.

PRETTY SWEET WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT.

BUT THE FUNCTION OF THAT IS YOU HAVE A HUGE PORTION OF FEE FOR MEMBERSHIP THAT HAS VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN RAISING UNCOMFORTABLE QUESTIONS ABOUT GREENWASHING OR SPORTS WASHING.

INSTEAD, THEY HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO GO ALONG WITH WHAT MR.

INFANTINO WANTS.

AND WHAT MR.

INFANTINO WANTS RIGHT NOW IS TO BE AS COZY AS HE CAN WITH U. S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, HANDING HIM A PEACE PRIZE AND DOING A WHOLE LOT MORE .

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WERE HEADLINES HERE ABOUT NOT JUST THE MONEY THAT FIFA MIGHT HAND TO HOST CITIES OR COUNTRIES, THE ACTUAL COSTS.

I'M HAVING THIS CONVERSATION FROM NEW YORK AND WE ARE HOSTING THE ABSOLUTE FINALS.

THE COST OF ALL OF THE POLICE OVERTIME, THE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, IS BEING BORNE BY THE CITIES AND STATES WHERE THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING TO FIFA?

WHY ARE CITIZENS HERE PAYING TO HOST THIS?

>> FIFA'S CORE BUSINESS MODEL INVOLVES SOCIALIZING THE COSTS OF THE WORLD CUP AND PRIVATIZING THE BENEFITS OF THE WORLD CUP.

AND BY SOCIALIZING THE COSTS , I MEAN TAXPAYERS IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK.

THEY WILL PAY FOR SECURITY.

THEY WILL PAY FOR THE MEDICAL TEAMS.

HEY, I LIVE IN OREGON.

AS A TAXPAYER I HELP FUND THE SECURITY FOR THIS EVENT.

THE LOCAL BODIES AND ALL OF THESE POSTINGS ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE FAN FESTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUSIVE.

THESE ARE VERY DIFFICULT THINGS TO MONETIZE .

WHEREAS, FIFA, THE WAY THEY DROP THEIR CONTRACTS, THEY TAKEN ALL OF THE MONEY FROM THE BROADCASTERS.

THEY TAKE IN ALL OF THE MONEY FROM THE CORPORATE SPONSORS.

THEY ACTUALLY TAKEN MONEY FROM CONCESSIONS ON SITE AT THESE WORLD CUP VENUES.

THEY TAKEN THE MONEY FROM THE PARKING.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE WAY THAT THE CONTRACTS WERE DRAWN UP THIS TIME AROUND WERE VERY IN FAVOR OF FIFA AND VERY DIFFERENT FROM 1994, THE LAST TIME THE UNITED STATES HOSTED THE WORLD CUP, WHERE THEY GOT A BIGGER SLICE OF THE MONEY PIE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THE PEOPLE ARE NOTICING, NOT JUST IN THE UNITED STATES BUT AROUND THE WORLD, YOU TAKE A GAME THAT IS ARGUABLY THE MOST ACCESSIBLE GAME ON THE PLANET.

YOU HAVE BAREFOOT KIDS THEY CAN KICK ANYTHING SPHERICAL ON WHATEVER SURFACE THEY ARE PLAYING ON.

YOU NOW HAVE TICKET PRICES FOR THE FINALS THAT ARE SOARING ON THE SECONDARY MARKET THAT ARE JUST TENS AND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, NOT TO MENTION GETTING HERE AND SO FORTH.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS GAME THAT HAS MADE IT , AT THE SAME TIME, THE MOST ACCESSIBLE AND INACCESSIBLE THING?

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT SOCCER IS THE PEOPLE'S GAME.

I WENT TO A MUSEUM OF GENOCIDE THERE AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS EXHIBITS WHERE PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT HOW SOCCER GOT THEM THROUGH THE SIEGE IN SARAJEVO AND HOW PEOPLE WERE HUDDLED AROUND THE TELEVISION WATCHING AND LACK AND WHY AT THE 1994 WORLD CUP.

SO IT IS ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE.

IT HELPS PEOPLE GET THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.

FIFA IS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT TICKET PRICES, THEY ARE MAKING SO MUCH MONEY OFF OF THE BACKS OF SOCCER LOVERS AROUND THE WORLD.

ESSENTIALLY, TURNING THE PEOPLE'S GAME INTO A GAME FOR THE RICH FOR PLUTOCRATS.

SO THEY HAVE THEIR MARKET WHERE THEY ARE SELLING TICKETS FOR THE FINAL AROUND $11,000 A POP.

AND IN QATAR JUST FOUR YEARS AGO THE TOP TICKET WAS GOING FOR $1600.

FIFA IS USING WHAT THEY CALL , DYNAMIC PRICING.

SOUNDS KIND OF NICE.

I LIKE DYNAMIC STUFF.

THIS IS NOT NICE IF YOU'RE A TICKET BUYER.

THEY ARE TRYING TO SQUEEZE THE VERY MAXIMUM THAT THEY CAN OUT OF YOU, MAKE YOU PAY AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN STAND.

THEN THERE IS THE SECONDARY MARKET.

WHEN PEOPLE BUY TICKETS AND RESELL THEM.

THERE IS NO CAP ON THAT IN THE UNITED STATES.

I SAW A TICKET ONLINE GOING FOR $11 MILLION THE OTHER DAY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING TO SELL IT FOR $11 MILLION, BUT IF THEY DID, FIFA WOULD GET MORE THAN $3 MILLION FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY TAKE 15% FROM THE BUYER IN THE SECONDARY MARKET AND 15% FROM THE SELLER.

SO THEY'VE ACTUALLY CREATED AN INCENTIVE TO HAVE TICKET PRICES GO THROUGH THE ROOF.

>> YOUR RESPONSE SPECIFICALLY TO THE HIGH TICKET PRICES, THE FIFA PRESIDENT SAID, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MARKET.

WE ARE IN A MARKET IN WHICH ENTERTAINMENT IS THE MOST DEVELOPED IN THE WORLD SO WE HAVE TO APPLY MARKET RATES.

FIFA SAID TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL THAT THEY HAVE WORKED COLLABORATIVELY WITH HOST CITIES TO LOWER COSTS AND PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY, INCLUDING CERTAIN HOSTING OBLIGATIONS.

EVEN WITH THAT, WE ARE SEEING THE PRICES WHERE THEY ARE?

>> TRY TELLING THAT TO NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR WHO WAS VERY ELOQUENT IN EXPLAINING RECENTLY WHY SHE DECIDED TO INITIALLY CHARGE $150 FOR TRAIN TICKET PRICES TO GET TO THE VENUE IN NEW JERSEY.

THOSE PRICES DID GO DOWN.

BUT HAS SHE EXPLAINED, FIFA GIVES HER AND NEW JERSEY TAXPAYERS ZERO DOLLARS.

SO THAT PUT HER AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION AROUND THE UNITED STATES IN A VERY DIFFICULT POSITION WHERE THEY EITHER PUT THAT ON THE BACK OF THE TAXPAYING PUBLIC OR THEY PUT THAT ON THE BACK OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE TO WATCH THE WORLD CUP AND SHE WENT WITH THE LATTER PATH AND GOT A LOT OF FLAK FOR BUT I THINK SHE ACTUALLY MADE THE RIGHT MOVE, TRYING TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC THAT FIFA HAS SET THIS SITUATION UP AND THEY ARE RELYING ON THE BACKS OF PEOPLE IN THESE VARIOUS HOST CITIES AND NOT GETTING MUCH IN RETURN EXCEPT FOR THE GAME.

REALLY, IT'S NOT FIFA THAT GIVES US THAT, IT'S THESE INCREDIBLE PLAYERS AROUND THE WORLD THAT DO THAT.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD.

LET'S TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT IRAN.

THEY HAVE MADE IT TO THE GAMES .

THEY ARE NOT THAT FAR BELOW WHERE THE U. S. IS RANKED IN THE OVERALL STANDINGS .

AT THE SAME TIME, WE'VE GOT A HOST NATION THAT IS ACTIVELY BOMBING A PARTICIPATING COUNTRY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY HAS NOT HAPPENED BEFORE WHERE ONE OF THE HOST COUNTRIES FOR THE WORLD CUP WAS ACTIVELY BOMBING AND THREATENING WAR CRIMES AGAINST ONE OF THE NATIONS.

IT HAS REALLY PUT --OVER THIS WORLD CUP.

IF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE WHITE HOUSE WERE THINKING STRATEGICALLY THEY WOULD BE WELCOMING THE IRANIAN TEAM WITH OPEN ARMS.

IF YOU LOOK RECENTLY AT WHAT THE IRANIAN MEN'S AND WOMEN'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAMS HAVE DONE WHEN THEY HAVE GONE ABROAD, THEY HAVE USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE QUESTIONS AND EVEN CRITIQUES ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BACK HOME IN IRAN .

IN 2022, FOR EXAMPLE, AS THE IRANIAN TEAM IS KNOWN , THEY DIDN'T SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM, THEREFORE SENDING A MESSAGE TO ACTIVISTS BACK AT HOME THAT THEY TOO WERE CRITICAL ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNMENT WAS RUNNING THINGS IN IRAN.

MORE RECENTLY, WHEN THE IRANIAN WOMEN'S TEAM WENT TO AUSTRALIA, YOU HAD A COUPLE OF THEM CLAIMING POLITICAL ASYLUM.

AGAIN, A TOUGH MESSAGE FOR THE IRANIAN REGIME TO RECEIVE AT HOME.

RATHER THAN OPENING HIS ARMS, PRESIDENT TRUMP, TO THE IRANIANS AND SAYING, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE AND HOPING MAYBE THEY WILL PROVIDE HIM WITH SOME PROPAGANDA, HE HAS DONE ALMOST THE VERY OPPOSITE.

HE HAS SAID THEY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BE SAFE IF THEY COME HERE.

HE HAS SAID NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT THEM IN THE PRESS.

THIS IS VERY MUCH AGAINST WHAT THE WORLD CUP IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.

GIANNI INFANTINO TALKS ABOUT HOW FOOTBALL UNITES IN THE WORLD.

BUT THE WAY PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE WITH IRAN, IT'S FRACTURING THE WORLD.

>> AS YOU THINK ABOUT THIS, AND YOU HAVE WRITTEN THIS POINTED CRITIQUE, YOU HAVE SAID YOU WERE KIND OF SAYING THIS OUT OF LOVE FOR THE GAME.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE HAPPENS?

>> WELL, IT'S TRUE.

IT'S SORT OF A LOVE LETTER THAT IS GROUNDED IN A DEEP CRITIQUE.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT'S A LOVE LETTER FOR SOCCER AND ITS POWER.

I HAVE SEEN SOCCER BUILD COMMUNITY, I HAVE SEEN SOCCER FORTIFY COME ROBBERY.

WHAT I HOPE FROM THIS TOURNAMENT IS PEOPLE AROUND THE UNITED STATES OPEN THEIR HEARTS TO VISITORS FROM ABROAD AND SAY TO THOSE FOLKS, LOOK, THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES CANNOT BE DISTILLED TO TRUMP.

WE LOVE PEOPLE COMING TO THIS COUNTRY, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, HOPING YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME WHEN YOU WERE HERE.

I HOPE THE SOCCER IS AT A VERY HIGH LEVEL, I HOPE WE SEE SOME OF THE BEST MATCHES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

BUT I'M ALSO KIND OF HOPING THAT SOME OF THE PLAYERS THAT ARE ON THESE VARIOUS ROSTERS TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MENTION THIS BROADER CONTEXT THAT YOU AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AND TO EMBRACE THE REALITY THAT SOCCER IS POLITICS BY OTHER MEANS.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ISSUES OF OUR TIME.

WE ARE LIVING IN AN INCREDIBLE POLITICAL MOMENT.

THIS WORLD CUP IS RIGHT SMACK IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL OF THIS INTENSITY.

PERHAPS THESE PLAYERS AND FANS CAN START TO CONSTRUCT A MORE POSITIVE FUTURE MOVING FORWARD.

>> PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT PACIFIC UNIVERSITY, AND AUTHOR OF "RED CARD FOR" JEWELS, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

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