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There’s a distinct buzz around Fifa World Cups. After all, it is one of only two truly global events — along with the Olympics — capable of bringing people from across the globe together for some fleeting moments of celebration.
This time round though, the buzz is not celebratory.
This World Cup feels divided, fragmented, uncertain. Haiti, Iran, Ivory Coast and Senegal fans were unable to travel due to US travel restrictions. The Democratic Republic of Congo fans were unable to travel due to Ebola restrictions.
Iran’s players and officials were denied US visas, which meant they had to shift their training base to Mexico, despite having to play all their group stage matches on the US West Coast. A special order granted only Iranian players (and not their officials) permission to enter and leave the US on the same day as their matches.
