Socceroos winger Awer Mabil says concerns about safety and the demands of travel have left him relieved that his family will not be in the United States or Canada to watch him at the World Cup.
His comments arrive as football’s biggest event threatens to become one of its most divisive, with off-field controversies dominating the build-up before Mexico meets South Africa in Friday morning’s opening match, Australian time.
While some insist politics should stay separate from sport, the run-in to this tournament has again shown how closely the two are intertwined.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has previously promised the event would be “the biggest, the most inclusive, the greatest FIFA World Cup ever”.
However, supporters, officials and players have all encountered difficulties entering the United States amid President Donald Trump’s tough immigration measures.
For Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, border control issues brought his World Cup ambitions to an abrupt end.
Socceroos star Awer Mabil says he is relieved his family will not be watching him at the World Cup in person
The gifted winger is not the only figure to raise concerns about the increasingly contentious 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.
