Edited volume convenor: Daniel Stockemer, Konrad Adenauer Research Chair in Empirical Democracy Studies, University of Ottawa, d.stockem@uottawa.ca
FIFA World Cups are political through the selection of host countries, the use of "sportswashing" to project a positive national image, and the geopolitical issues that arise during and after the tournament. Events like the 2018 and 2022 World Cup in Russia and Qatar, respectively, illustrate these controversies, which often involve human rights, corruption, and international diplomacy. The FIFA 2026 World Cup, as the biggest soccer World Cup ever organized. will be particularly political. For the first time in its history, the tournament will expand from 32 to 48 teams and will be hosted by three nations – the United States, Mexico and Canada. As of January 2025, more than 4 months before its start, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is already facing significant political controversies related to host city selection, human rights concerns in the U.S., and complex relationships between the three host nations. U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to move games out of Democratic led cities such as Seattle or San Francesco and broader policy shifts have added considerable political uncertainty to the event. Among others, there are concerns about LGBTQI+ rights, freedom of expression and labor rights. Internationally, President Trump's policy decisions, including the possibility of new travel bans and trade tariffs, have created uncertainty for international fans. Fans, in particular, Mexican fans, have expressed concerns about potential visa issues and feeling unwelcome in the U.S., which could dampen the experience for cross-border travelers. Finally, the tournament will be played out against the backdrop of vastly different political landscapes in the three nations, including the U.S.'s contentious federal government and Canada and Mexico's efforts to assert their national interests
Chapters considered for inclusion into the edited volume should discuss the politics of the 2026 FIFA World Cup broadly defined. We solicit both qualitative and quantitative papers, as well as papers that discuss politics in relation to the FIFA World Cup from a micro-, meso- or macro-level perspective. Papers can also use a historical ankle or a contemporary ankle, as long as they discuss the political repercussions of the FIFA World Cup 2026, broadly defined.
Important dates:
1 May 2026: Submissions of abstracts (200 words)
15 May 2026: Acceptance or rejection notifications sent by email
15 October 2026: Deadline to submit full papers (6,000 to 8,000 words); the papers will undergo editor’s review and peer review by one of the other contributors to the edited collection.
Summer 2027: Publication of the Book with Springer Nature.
For inquiries, please contact Daniel Stockemer @ dstockem@uottawa.ca
For more information about Springer Nature, please visit: https://www.springernature.com/gp/librarians/products/ebooks/ebook-collection/ebook-political-science-international-studies
