World Cup drama already reaching fever pitch

Opinion

You can tell from the urgency, tensity and even hostility of the past few days that we’re not far off from the men’s World Cup.

A year from now, we’ll be following the inter-confederation playoffs to learn the final two qualifiers for the competition proper. By then, December’s group stage draw will have mostly built out the brackets and determined the schedule.

Time is running out. Nerves are taut. You’d think the drama was already underway.

Well, it kind of is. And we needn’t look far to find it.

Canada’s Davies conundrum

Canada’s 2-1 win over the United States on Sunday was doubtless a morale-booster, not only for the team itself but also for a country looking to get one over the Americans. It also came at a price the national team cannot afford to pay.

Captain Alphonso Davies, who’d already picked up a knock against Mexico the previous Thursday, lasted 12 minutes at SoFi Stadium before exiting the match with an apparent leg injury. Three days later, his agent lashed out at Canada Soccer, claiming in a statement the initial plan had been for Davies to start the match on the bench. He added Canada needed to take better care of its players.

Upon re-evaluation at his club team, Bayern Munich, Davies’ apparent leg injury turned out to be a season-ending ACL tear. On Friday, Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund accused Canada Soccer of negligence, and club CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said the Bundesliga leaders would consider legal action.

It’s early days, but this is the sort of player-club-country controversy that could potentially damage Canada Soccer’s relationship with their best player and most important leader. That said, it will ultimately be up to Davies to determine what happens next. A nation holds its breath.

South Africa’s potential points deduction

South Africa, too, is holding its breath as FIFA weighs potential sanctions after the 2010 World Cup hosts fielded an ineligible player in a qualification match against Lesotho.

Having been shown yellow cards in previous CAF Group C matches against Benin and Zimbabwe, midfielder Teboho Mokoena should have missed last week’s encounter with Lesotho through suspension. But he played, and Bafana Bafana won 2-0.

Lesotho have since lodged a complaint, and FIFA could respond with punishment ranging from a warning to a points deduction. The latter would see South Africa’s lead atop their group narrowed to a single point, while slumping Nigeria would suddenly find themselves just three points off the summit.

Iran’s entry question

Iran booked passage to a fourth successive World Cup after coming from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with Uzbekistan on Tuesday. Whether they end up competing in the tournament is another matter entirely.

Earlier this month, Reuters gained access to an internal U.S. administration memo that indicated Iran would be one of several countries blanketed with a total visa ban. If effected, it would mean Iranian players, staff and fans could expect to be denied entry to the United States. It’s a scenario that has already raised some intriguing follow-up questions.

Even if the U.S. bans are implemented, Iran could still enter World Cup co-hosts Canada and Mexico. Would FIFA fix the group stage draw to ensure Team Melli play in one or both of those countries? What of the other teams potentially impacted by the visa restraints?

Venezuela, currently holding an Inter-confederation Play-off berth and still in the mix for direct World Cup qualification, are also on the restriction list. Sudan, too, could be subject to a total ban. Then there are the countries recommended for partial restraints, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde and DR Congo. All could potentially qualify.

Given that the Oval Office decides when, and against whom, to apply its rules at random, it’s conceivable the U.S. could declare a sort of temporary pause to its immigration regulations for the World Cup — at least for the teams, specifically. And the fans? Don’t count on it.

This administration views the World Cup as entertainment for Americans first, and Americans only. Bread and circuses, etc.

Brazil’s total meltdown

On a purely footballing level, Brazil’s qualification meltdown — exacerbated by Tuesday’s 4-1 loss to archrivals Argentina – is perhaps the most emotionally-charged storyline from the past week, as well as the one with the farthest-reaching ramifications.

Brazil are still on course to qualify for the 2026 World Cup — but only because the tournament has expanded to 48 teams from 32. In the old format they’d be tied for the final South American spot and in real danger of dropping out of contention altogether. It’s why the Selecao continue to court Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, who insists he won’t consider any job offers until July.

Ancelotti is Brazil’s top candidate to replace the unpopular Dorival Junior, who was fired Friday. Although Jorge Jesus, a Copa Libertadores winner with Flamengo, is the reported Plan B. But should Ancelotti make the move, it would leave vacant a Madrid position Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso would find too tantalizing to pass up. Crystal Palace Palace manager Oliver Glasner would then take a good look at Leverkusen, and the dominos would continue to fall.

Israel’s controversial campaign

Travelling Norway fans booed Israel’s national anthem ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier, played at the neutral site of Debrecen, Hungary.

In the run-up to kick-off, Norway captain Martin Odegaard suggested that UEFA should consider suspending Israel as long as the Gaza war is ongoing. UEFA officials reportedly visited both dressing rooms to calm the situation before the Group I match, which Norway won 4-2.

Supporters of Italy, another Group I participant, turned their backs on the Israeli anthem in a recent friendly. The two sides are scheduled to meet twice more this fall.

In addition to Italy, a campaign to have Israel barred from UEFA and FIFA tournaments so far includes Belgium, Brazil, Spain and Tunisia. It’s not going to happen, but this is a situation that will only intensify as World Cup qualifying proceeds, and one the football and local authorities will have to get a handle on.

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