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When Morocco bid to host the 2026 World Cup in 2018, it emphasized the low number of guns in circulation. This was a not-so-subtle disdain for the joint US bid with Canada and Mexico, but he only mentioned guns once, saying they were a political issue for Americans. Ta.
Its politics remain, as do its real-life implications. Recently, a mass shooting occurred during a Super Bowl victory celebration in Kansas City, Missouri, and how FIFA will address the issue of gun violence when the World Cup is hosted in the United States, including Kansas City, in 2026. New questions have arisen.
Kansas City authorities dedicate more than 800 police officers to on-site security during the Super Bowl championship parade, despite a shooting incident that occurred during an alleged altercation between several people. A radio DJ and mother of two was killed and more than 20 people were injured. Half of those injured were under the age of 16.
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Two juveniles were charged with gun-related charges and resisting arrest in connection with the shooting. Missouri prosecutors later charged two Missouri men with second-degree murder and multiple weapons charges.
The event also raised a red flag for soccer’s governing body FIFA, which is expected to hold 104 matches in 39 days for the 2026 World Cup, which is expected to draw millions of fans to stadiums across the United States. There is. This tournament is also the first World Cup. Without a national organizing committee.
Just over two years after the tournament began, here’s how FIFA and the 2026 host city are thinking about the issue.
police fan festival
Legal experts and gun safety advocates say they are less concerned about organizers keeping fans safe inside stadiums. The stadium is already heavily guarded, with fans passing through metal detectors and baggage checks before entering. But their concerns are heightened when discussing large gatherings like the fan celebration, which in many ways resembles the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade.
At World Cups, it is common for each host city to hold a designated fan fest. Fanfests are large gathering spaces, usually outdoors, with large screens that give fans a place to watch World Cup games for free during the tournament. The location for 2026’s Fan Fest has not yet been determined by local organizers, meaning security plans are also pending.
The opening of FIFA Fan Fest in Oakland for the 2023 World Cup has been delayed due to a shooting incident (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
But the question of who will run these fan fests and how much power World Cup organizer FIFA has to restrict firearms beyond state or federal law is unclear.
In January, the Sports Business Journal reported that FIFA had privately indicated to organizers that it would give host cities more control over Fan Fest. Fan Fest is considered a way for host cities to generate revenue to offset the costs of hosting World Cup matches.
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What is written in the document
Official bid documents submitted to FIFA outline security and safety plans for the 2026 tournament, but do not specifically mention the potential threat of gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, as of this article’s publication, there have been 63 mass shootings in the United States in 2024, and a mass shooting is one in which four or more victims are shot or killed. It is described as an incident.
The tender also outlines an extensive stadium command center that organizers will set up for each match, adding that the security plan for FIFA Fan Fest will be “determined based on a threat analysis” and will include “general security, This includes strengthening security resources in areas such as surveillance. We will take administrative and other appropriate measures. ”
when asked The Athletic Regarding how FIFA plans to tackle gun violence in the United States in the wake of the Super Bowl parade shooting, a FIFA spokesperson said: “First and foremost, we would like to express our deepest condolences to the families and victims of this tragedy. Our thoughts are with the entire community.
“The safety and security of our fans and players is an integral part of the overall FIFA World Cup operation. We will continue to work closely with tribes, local government officials, and host city commissions.”
Officials from KC2026, the city’s local organizing committee, issued a similar statement.
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FIFA cooperates with local and federal authorities
Former U.S. Soccer president Alan Rosenberg, who hosted the 1994 U.S. World Cup and is currently advising several host cities in 2026, said the possibility of gun violence is something organizers must prepare for. “This is just one of many threats,” he said.
“Safety and security are top priorities for any event organizer, especially at high-profile international events like the World Cup,” said Rothenberg. “But I think we need to differentiate between the potential for gun violence and other acts of violence inside the stadium and outside.”
Mr Rothenberg said it was unlikely that people would bring weapons into the stadium because of the various safety measures in place when entering the facility or even entering the grounds surrounding the venue. “But obviously the issue is a large area outside, and this is a huge public safety concern.”
The 2026 World Cup final will be held at MetLife Stadium outside New York City (Getty Images)
He said during large-scale events like the World Cup, these public areas are a top priority for local law enforcement.
“Every city we’re talking about has had some kind of big event, so it’s not new to them,” Rotenberg said. “When it comes to international events like the World Cup or the Olympics, the scope of interest starts to widen. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee 100 percent security, but Interpol and other international organizations can help. And the FBI is really helpful.”
Rotenberg recalled that during the 1994 World Cup, hooliganism was a very real security concern. Organizers were willing to cooperate with British law enforcement, who had documentation on known hooligans. England’s failure to qualify for the tournament nixed that plan, but organizers would rather overprepare than underprepare.
“There is probably no item that (organizers) spend more time and money on ensuring safety than security,” Rotenberg said.
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Navigating state laws
But what can complicate organizers’ best intentions are various state laws governing the level of license required to carry a firearm and the extent to which concealed firearms are allowed. Hovering over it all is the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, whose specific meaning is hotly debated, but which states: And if you possess a weapon, you must not be violated. ”
Who has the power to ban guns in public places is often a complex legal dance, but when a private company (FIFA or a local committee) operates a private company (Fan Fest) in a public place. can be even more complex.
2026 World Cup Host City (Design: Drew Jordan/John Bradford)
“Some states, like California and New York, have very strong gun laws, making sure that people are properly regulated before allowing them to carry guns in public,” said Lindsey Nichols, policy director at the Giffords Law Center. We are looking into it closely.” A safety organization that releases an annual scorecard analyzing all states and their gun laws. “Their concealed carry laws are relatively strong; background check requirements (and) training people have to go through to ensure that only responsible gun owners can carry guns in public. There are requirements.
“Other states like Texas, Missouri and Georgia no longer have these requirements,” she said. “That used to be the case, but in recent years those requirements have been abolished.” Nichols describes these states as “permit-carry states,” which means people can’t carry guns in public. This means you no longer need a permit to carry concealed.
The law gets even more complicated when you consider whether guns would theoretically be allowed in public places, such as the park where FIFA Fan Fest is held. In private spaces, whether guns are allowed is usually up to the property owner.
Regardless of whether gun violence is a top priority for fans, the reality is that the epidemic is hurting America’s global reputation, said Adam Winkler, an expert on U.S. constitutional law at the University of California, Los Angeles. Professor told the Supreme Court. , and gun policy.
“America’s reputation around the world has been affected by the proliferation of firearms and the extensive gun rights system,” he said. “No matter where you go in the world, people will talk about what’s going on in America. Why are there so many guns? Why are so many people dying at the hands of guns? Is not it?
“You can’t blame people coming to America for thinking twice about doing so when gun violence mars the world champion Kansas City Chiefs’ celebratory parade and makes news around the world.”
(Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
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