World Cup
Global Conflict Once Silenced the FIFA World Cup, Today’s Tensions Could Do the Same
By Kunle Solaja
For much of the modern era, the FIFA World Cup has been the world’s most powerful sporting spectacle—an event capable of pausing wars, suspending rivalries and uniting billions of viewers every four years. Yet history shows that global conflict can also silence football’s greatest festival.
The Second World War remains the clearest example. It is hoped that there will be no World War III.
In the summer of 1938, football fans filled stadiums across France as the third edition of the FIFA World Cup reached its dramatic climax. Italy eventually lifted the trophy, defeating Hungary 4–2 in Paris.
Few in those jubilant crowds could have imagined that it would be 12 years before the world gathered again for football’s greatest spectacle.
Within a year, Europe would be engulfed in war. But on 1 September 1939, when Germany invaded Poland and the Second World War erupted, the international football calendar collapsed almost overnight. What followed was one of the most remarkable interruptions in sporting history: the disappearance of the FIFA World Cup.
Today, as geopolitical tensions rise in the Middle East amid confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran, historians of sport are again reminded that global conflict can reach far beyond politics and battlefields. It can silence sport itself.
Members of the Lebanese Civil Defence inspect a damaged building after an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, following renewed hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 9, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer
The escalating tensions in the Middle East today, particularly the confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran, have raised concerns among sports observers that geopolitical crises can again disrupt the delicate ecosystem that sustains global sporting events.
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
The FIFA World Cup had been successfully staged three times, in 1930 in Uruguay, 1934 in Italy and 1938 in France, before the march of history intervened. Plans were already underway for the next edition scheduled for 1942, with Germany and Brazil among the countries interested in hosting the tournament.
But on September 1, 1939, Nazi Germany’s invasion of Poland triggered the Second World War, drawing major powers into a devastating global conflict. The war immediately made international travel, logistics and political cooperation impossible. As a result, FIFA cancelled the 1942 World Cup even before a host nation could be chosen.
Israeli soldiers gather near vehicles on the Israeli side of the Israel-Lebanon border, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in northern Israel, March 9, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
The devastation of the war meant that football’s global showpiece could not resume quickly. Europe’s infrastructure was in ruins, many national associations had collapsed, and players were either in military service or recovering from wartime trauma. Consequently, the 1946 World Cup was also cancelled.
For 12 years, from the 1938 tournament in France until Brazil hosted the competition in 1950, the world’s most important football tournament simply did not exist.
A Lost Generation of Footballers
The absence of the World Cup during those years had significant consequences:
The disappearance of the World Cup during the war years created a footballing void that is still remembered today.
Many players who had emerged as stars in the late 1930s never received another opportunity to play on the world stage. Their peak years coincided with the war.
Several footballers lost their lives in combat, while others returned from the war physically or psychologically scarred. Domestic leagues in many countries were suspended or drastically reduced. International matches became rare.
In some places, football was played only in improvised forms to maintain morale among soldiers and civilians.
The administrative body governing world football also struggled to function. FIFA’s activities slowed dramatically, as many member associations were unable to operate effectively during the war.
Football, like much of global society, was in survival mode.
When the tournament finally returned in Brazil in 1950, it symbolised not just the rebirth of football but also the restoration of international cooperation after years of hostility.
Lessons From History
The wartime suspension of the World Cup demonstrated how fragile global sporting structures can be. Football tournaments depend on open borders, secure travel routes, stable diplomacy and economic cooperation.
War undermines all of these conditions. Already, the Iraqi team is facing logistical problems in travelling to Mexico for the intercontinental play-off. In the coming days, there may be others who will face similar issues.
Iran, already a qualifier for the World Cup, may likely abstain. Statutorily, a replacement should come from that region. But such a replacement will likely face the same problem currently facing Iraq.
Even after World War II ended in 1945, it took five years before the world could gather again for football’s biggest tournament. Reconstruction, diplomacy and infrastructure rebuilding had to precede the revival of sport.
Echoes in Today’s Geopolitical Climate
While the world today is far more interconnected than it was in the 1940s, geopolitical tensions still pose risks to international sport.
The escalating confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran has already begun to generate concerns across global institutions, from energy markets to aviation and international travel. If the conflict widens, its ripple effects could easily reach the sporting arena.
Major football tournaments are particularly vulnerable to geopolitical crises because they involve dozens of national teams, global travel logistics, security coordination and massive commercial investments.
Should tensions escalate into a broader regional or global conflict, the football calendar could face several disruptions:
1. Travel and security concerns
Airspace closures, sanctions or security threats could make international travel difficult for teams, officials and fans.
2. Tournament boycotts
Political alliances often spill into sport. Nations could refuse to play against certain opponents, echoing past boycotts in Olympic and football competitions.
3. Economic shocks
War often destabilises global economies. Sponsors, broadcasters and governments that fund tournaments may redirect resources to more urgent priorities.
4. Fan movement restrictions
Large international gatherings depend on the safe movement of supporters. Conflict zones can quickly undermine this.
5. Political pressure on governing bodies
Just as FIFA struggled during World War II, global football administrators could face enormous pressure to take sides or impose sanctions.
The story of the cancelled World Cups of 1942 and 1946 reminds one that sport does not exist in isolation from politics. When the world descends into conflict, even the most beloved sporting traditions can disappear overnight.
Yet the return of the World Cup in 1950 also showed something else: football can become a symbol of recovery and reconciliation after a crisis.
Whether the current geopolitical tensions escalate or subside, history offers a powerful lesson—when peace is threatened, even the world’s game can fall silent. And when peace returns, football often becomes one of the first languages through which the world begins to speak to itself again.
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FIFA has expressed disappointment over the inability of Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan to participate in the FIFA World Cup after United States immigration authorities denied him entry into the country.
The world football governing body confirmed on Monday that Artan, who had been selected among the match officials for the tournament, would be unable to join the World Cup refereeing team after efforts to resolve his immigration status proved unsuccessful.
“FIFA is not involved in host country immigration processes, including visa adjudications, and has been informed by authorities that Mr Artan’s status will not be changed at present,” a FIFA spokesperson said.
The decision means Artan, who was poised to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup match, will miss the competition that kicks off on Thursday in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Sources familiar with the situation said FIFA had been in contact with relevant authorities after learning of the referee’s predicament but was ultimately informed that the decision would stand.
Artan arrived at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday and was denied entry after undergoing additional inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
In a statement, CBP said a Somali national was deemed inadmissible because of vetting concerns, though it did not disclose specific details.
The incident has left FIFA without one of Africa’s most respected referees. Artan’s stock has risen significantly in recent years, culminating in his recognition as the Confederation of African Football’s Best Male Referee for 2025.
Last month, he took charge of the second leg of the CAF Champions League final in Morocco, one of the continent’s most prestigious club fixtures.
Despite the setback, Artan struck a positive note in a statement released after the decision.
“I would like to thank FIFA and CAF for all their support, and I promise to keep my refereeing levels up as I concentrate on the future,” he said.
“I want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best of luck during the World Cup, and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”
The episode has drawn attention to immigration issues surrounding major international sporting events hosted by the United States. The Trump administration’s travel restrictions on citizens from several countries, including Somalia, had already prompted concerns among some stakeholders ahead of the tournament.
FIFA, however, reiterated that immigration matters remain the responsibility of national authorities and emphasized that it has no role in determining the admissibility of individuals entering host countries.
With the tournament set to begin this week, FIFA is expected to proceed with its officiating roster without Artan, while the Somali official turns his attention to future international assignments.
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England defender Djed Spence is set to take a page from Victor Osimhen’s playbook at the FIFA World Cup, revealing that he will wear a protective face mask throughout the tournament after suffering a broken jaw in the closing weeks of the Premier League season.
The Tottenham Hotspur defender joins a growing list of players who have continued competing while masked, most notably Nigeria’s star striker Victor Osimhen, whose black protective mask has become one of football’s most recognisable accessories since a serious facial injury suffered during his time at Napoli.
Spence sustained the injury in a collision with Chelsea forward Liam Delap last month but remains determined to play a full part in England’s World Cup campaign.
“It’s a little bit uncomfortable, but it is what it is,” Spence told reporters on Monday.
“I’ve got a broken jaw, so I have to wear it throughout the tournament. It’s something I will have to get used to. It’ll be three months until it’s fully healed, so it’s a long time.”
Like Osimhen, who returned to action wearing a mask after undergoing surgery for multiple facial fractures in 2021, Spence has shown little inclination to let the injury interrupt his football.
The defender even completed the match in which the injury occurred and later featured in Tottenham’s final league game against Everton while wearing the protective gear.
“It was painful, but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw. So I was all good,” Spence added.
Osimhen’s mask has become synonymous with resilience and determination. Since adopting it, the Nigerian international has gone on to establish himself among Europe’s most feared strikers, helping Napoli win the Serie A title and becoming a symbol of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Spence now hopes the mask will similarly prove no obstacle as England pursue World Cup glory in North America.
England begin their campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 before facing Ghana and Panama in the remaining Group D fixtures.
While Spence’s protective gear may not yet be as iconic as Osimhen’s, the England defender will be hoping it brings the same good fortune that has accompanied the Nigerian striker’s remarkable rise over the past few years.
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Michael Olise once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of France’s most indispensable attacking players, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland in Lille as Les Bleus fine-tuned preparations for the FIFA World Cup.
The 24-year-old playmaker, who was eligible to represent Nigeria through his father before committing his international future to France, was the driving force behind virtually every dangerous French attack, underlining the magnitude of the talent the Super Eagles failed to secure.
With eight days remaining before France begin their World Cup campaign in the United States, Olise’s dazzling performance reinforced his growing status as the creative heartbeat of Didier Deschamps’ side.
France may boast world-class stars such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, but it was Olise who provided the cutting edge, vision and finishing touch that ultimately separated the teams.
Deschamps fielded what is expected to be his strongest starting lineup ahead of the Group I opener against Senegal on June 16, with Olise operating just behind the attacking trio of Mbappe, Dembele and Doue. The Bayern Munich midfielder repaid that faith with a match-winning display.
France initially struggled to penetrate Northern Ireland’s disciplined defensive block and created few clear opportunities in a frustrating first half. However, Olise’s influence steadily grew as he began dictating the tempo and linking effectively with France’s array of attacking talent.
The breakthrough came two minutes before halftime when Doue surged down the left flank and found Dembele inside the penalty area. The Paris Saint-Germain forward’s effort was deflected into Olise’s path, allowing him to calmly tap home from close range.
The French attack immediately sprang to life after the interval, with Olise once again at the centre of events. Four minutes into the second half, he reacted quickest to a poor clearance and unleashed a powerful half-volley into the net to double France’s advantage.
While France’s attack looked increasingly fluid, defensive vulnerabilities remained evident. Just as they had during the recent defeat to Côte d’Ivoire, Les Bleus were exposed on the counterattack, allowing Patrick Kelly to reduce the deficit after meeting Shea Charles’s cross with a clinical finish.
Yet any hopes of a Northern Ireland comeback were extinguished by Olise.
The former Crystal Palace star completed his hat-trick in the 75th minute with a superb curling effort into the far corner, capping a performance that highlighted both his creativity and finishing ability.
As France turn their attention to World Cup clashes against Senegal, Iraq and Norway, Olise’s emergence as the team’s chief playmaker offers encouragement for Deschamps. For Nigeria, however, each outstanding display serves as a reminder of a gifted player who could have been orchestrating attacks for the Super Eagles on football’s biggest stage.
On current form, Olise is not merely a supporting act in France’s star-studded attack—he is rapidly becoming the backbone of it.
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FIFA Expresses Regret Over Referee’s U.S. Entry Denial Ahead of World Cup
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Nigeria’s Loss, France’s Gain as Olise Underlines World Cup Importance with Hat-Trick
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