"By 1934, it was entirely evident what Benito Mussolini was up to. Italy's dictator had already consolidated power, colonized Libya and annexed the city of Rijeka. He nevertheless got to stage the second-ever World Cup, managing it with a heavy hand and even supplanting the Jules Rimet trophy with a far larger one. Hosting and winning that World Cup didn't sate his expansionist appetites. By the end of decade, Mussolini would take Ethiopia, annex Albania and back Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War."
"It was equally well established in 1978 that General Jorge Videla's military junta in Argentina, which had taken over two years earlier, was maintaining its grip on power through systematic detention, torture and murder. Still, protestations from other nations were ignored and the World Cup kicked off. At last, the world can see the true face of Argentina, said Fifa president Joao Havelange at the opening ceremony, newly decorated with a medal from Videla."
"Argentina spared no expense in putting on its World Cup, even though the total cost was a state secret. But the right-wing government also didn't bother to slow the pace at which it disappeared political dissidents and opponents. Germany captain Berti Vogts proclaimed that Argentina is a country where order reigns. I haven't seen a single political prisoner, though, so no matter."
Authoritarian leaders have repeatedly used World Cups to project legitimacy and distract from repression. In 1934 Benito Mussolini consolidated power, colonized Libya, annexed Rijeka, staged the second World Cup with heavy-handed control and supplanted the Jules Rimet trophy; hosting and winning did not curb his later invasions of Ethiopia and Albania or his backing of Franco. In 1978 Argentina's Videla junta maintained power through systematic detention, torture and murder even as the country hosted the World Cup and received international praise. In 2018 Vladimir Putin presided over a World Cup after annexing Crimea and supporting Donbas rebels while FIFA overlooked those actions. The 2026 World Cup will be assessed within the same geopolitical framework.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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