Participating countries in 2026 World Cup warn fans to avoid traveling to the US due to mass shootings and killing sprees

05/23/2023 / By Ramon Tomey

Several countries set to participate in the upcoming 2026 World Cup have warned soccer fans to exercise caution due to mass shootings and killing sprees in the United States. The country will co-host the World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.

The governments of several countries issued these warnings three years before the much-awaited soccer event. This is the second time multiple countries have co-hosted the World Cup. South Korea and Japan both hosted the event back in 2002.

The event to be held from June to July 2026 will see 48 teams play 104 matches in several cities in the three nations. Argentina is set to defend the championship it won at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, Ottawa has warned Canadians to be careful of these shootings and urged them to familiarize themselves with how to respond in an active shooter situation. The official website of the Canadian government stated: “Incidences of mass shootings occur, resulting most often in casualties. Although tourists are rarely involved, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

New Zealand told citizens to be wary of traveling to the U.S. as it harbors a number of “domestic-based extremists.” Meanwhile, the German government pointed out that the ease of obtaining guns in America has led to “occasional killing sprees.”

Even crime-ridden Venezuela itself was not unaware of the gun violence occurring in the United States. Caracas exhorted Venezuelans to avoid traveling due to the “proliferation of acts of violence and indiscriminate hate crimes.”

Even fans themselves pointed out the dangers of gun violence that could happen during the World Cup.

A British soccer fan took to social media with this question: “Now with the World Cup being in the [U.S.], how will they guarantee fan safety?” Another fan from Nigeria wrote: “All these U.S. shooting cases are red flags for [the] World Cup to be hosted there.”

NeighborhoodScout discloses top 10 most dangerous US cities

A January 2023 article by real estate database NeighborhoodScout noted the top 10 most dangerous cities in the United States.

The city of Bessemer in Alabama landed on the No. 1 spot, with its 33.1 violent crime rate per 1,000 residents (VCR) and one in 30 chance of being victimized in the city. Mobile, also in Alabama, landed on the No. 2 spot with its VCR of 27.9 and one in 25 chance of victimization.

Three cities in the Yellowhammer State – Bessemer, Mobile and Birmingham – made it to the list. Two cities each in Louisiana, Arkansas and Michigan were also listed. Memphis was the only city from Tennessee to make the list.

“Many of the dangerous cities on the list this year have appeared on past lists,” the database said, remarking that “violent crimes” that happen in these cities include rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault. None of the World Cup’s venues will be held in these dangerous cities, however. (Related: Crime City: New York City records highest number of felony crimes in 16 years.)

Stephen Ekstrom, the chief strategist of the Tourism Academy based in Florida, said of the issue: “It’s fair to say that [gun violence] is one of the threats to the tourism industry that we can’t market our way out of.”

Visit Shootings.news for more stories about gun violence.

Watch this video of spectators at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar expressing support for Palestine.

This video is from the HolisticGreen channel on Brighteon.com.