Socceroos star Awer Mabil has revealed that worries over safety and travel meant he’s happy his family won’t be in the USA and Canada to watch him play at the World Cup.
His remarks come as the planet’s biggest football tournament is also shaping up to be its most polarising, with what’s been happening off the field taking centre stage before Mexico takes on South Africa in the opening match on Friday morning, Australian time.
If some continue to argue that politics should be kept out of sports, the lead-up to this tournament has underlined how the two are always connected.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino famously declared this tournament would be “the biggest, the most inclusive, the greatest FIFA World Cup ever”.
But fans, officials and players alike have had their issues entering the United States amid the country’s immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump.
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan had his World Cup dream ended by border control.
Socceroos star Awer Mabil is happy his family won’t see him play in the World Cup
The talented winger is far from alone in voicing his worries about the polarising tournament
Mabil is pictured with family members after a Socceroos match
Artan, who was due to become the first Somali referee to officiate at the World Cup finals, was denied entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport from Istanbul on Saturday.
An Iraq team photographer was turned back at Chicago’s O’Hare airport while striker Aymen Hussein was held and questioned for nearly seven hours before he was permitted to enter.
Then there’s Iran.
The US, with Israel, launched military attacks on Iran mere months after FIFA awarded Trump its inaugural ‘Peace Prize’.
The Iranian football team’s stresses have included relocating their training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, members of the delegation being denied visas for the US and concerns over travel for games there.
Fans from multiple countries have been denied visas, while the astronomical cost of some tickets has locked out others.
Because of the size of the tournament, the cost and duress of travel has been a deal-breaker for many.
Even with Australia having one of the more straightforward travel routes – Vancouver, Seattle, then Santa Clara – it’s a lot.
The 30-year-old said he is happy in the knowledge his loved ones will be safe when they watch games at home
Mabil spoke out after Somali referee Omar Artan (pictured) was barred from entering the USA to officiate at the Cup
While some Socceroos are bringing family along, Mabil chose to do it alone, noting the complications of travel and border crossings compared to the far easier logistics experienced in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup.
‘This time, it was last-minute to organise a lot of things so it was better for them to stay at home,’ Mabil said.
‘Also the travelling would be tough for my mum and my little siblings to travel in and out. I didn’t want that headache for them.’
He then touched on his worries about his family’s safety.
‘To be honest, also, it’s probably better for me because I can be at peace knowing my family’s OK, they’re watching the game at home,’ Mabil said.
The Socceroos are among those teams hoping to shock the world when the football gets started.
This World Cup includes four debutants: Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan.
In the expanded 48-team format, 32 teams – including eight of the 12 best third-placed outfits – reach the knockouts, giving the Aussies more of a chance to run deeper into the tournament.
