More than twenty MPs have now come together to demand that the United States be removed from this summer’s World Cup, arguing that the actions of President Donald Trump have crossed a serious legal and moral line. They believe recent events show a clear breach of international law and say there must be real consequences, even in the world of global sport.
The MPs say that allowing the US to take part in major international tournaments while carrying out these actions sends the wrong message to the rest of the world. Their motion, which has support from politicians across several parties, calls on FIFA to seriously consider expelling the United States.
They point to the US operation in Venezuela, where American forces reportedly captured President Nicolás Maduro, as well as Trump’s increasingly aggressive language and threats towards other countries including Denmark, Cuba and Colombia.
The situation in Venezuela has caused particular outrage. Trump is accused of ordering US commandos to seize Maduro during a military operation, an act the MPs describe as illegal under international law.
Many see this as the forced removal of a foreign leader without the consent of that country, something they say cannot be justified regardless of opinions about Maduro’s leadership. While Maduro is a deeply controversial figure, the MPs argue that disagreement with a government does not give another country the right to invade or abduct its leader.
Tensions have grown further after the White House suggested it is considering taking control of Greenland, which is an autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. This has alarmed European leaders and added to concerns about the US threatening the sovereignty of other nations.
Trump has also made crude and aggressive comments about Colombia’s president, warning him to “watch his ass” and hinting that he could face the same fate as Maduro. On top of this, Trump has claimed that Cuba is close to collapse and suggested that the US may need to “do something” about Mexico, comments that critics say sound like threats rather than diplomacy.
In response to all of this, 21 MPs have signed a motion calling for the United States to be banned from major global sporting events. The motion urges Parliament to formally condemn what it describes as the kidnapping of a sitting president and the threatening behaviour towards other independent countries such as Denmark, Colombia and Cuba. The MPs argue that sport should not be separated from reality when serious breaches of international law are taking place.
Labour MP Brian Leishman, who put forward the motion, said the situation exposes deep hypocrisy from both the international community and sporting organisations. He criticised FIFA in particular, pointing out that while it claims to stay neutral and avoid politics, it recently honoured Donald Trump with an award. In December, FIFA presented Trump with its first-ever FIFA Peace Award, a move that many now see as deeply contradictory.
Leishman said there must be consistency in how international law is enforced. He said that what happened in Venezuela amounts to an invasion of a sovereign country and the abduction of its president. While making it clear that he strongly criticises Maduro and does not support his government, Leishman stressed that personal or political dislike cannot justify breaking international law. He compared the situation to the way Russia has been treated by sporting bodies and said that response was right, but questioned why the same standards are not being applied to the United States.
The motion states that Trump’s actions undermine the international system that is meant to be based on rules, cooperation and respect for national sovereignty. It also argues that international sporting events should never be used to excuse, soften or normalise serious violations of international law by powerful countries simply because of their influence or status.
The group of MPs backing the motion includes 15 Labour backbenchers, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a Liberal Democrat MP and four MPs from Plaid Cymru. Together, they are also calling on the UK government to challenge what they describe as double standards in how global rules are enforced, especially when powerful nations are involved.
Despite being the host nation, the United States is seen as a long shot to win the World Cup. The national team has qualified for 11 tournaments since 1930 and will face Paraguay and Australia in the group stage this year. However, the MPs argue that sporting performance is irrelevant when serious legal and ethical issues are at stake.
The UK government has said it is up to the White House to explain the legal justification for the operation in Venezuela. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured and taken to the United States, where they are expected to face trial on conspiracy charges. The US government has labelled Maduro a “narco-terrorist”, while Maduro himself has said he is a kidnapped president and considers himself a prisoner of war.
Britain has publicly said it stands with Denmark following Trump’s comments about taking over Greenland on national security grounds. Labour leader Keir Starmer has said the future of Greenland should only ever be decided by the people of Greenland and Denmark themselves. He has raised the issue directly in a call with Trump, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the US president and the seriousness of the situation.
