Published On 10/6/2026
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Last update: 08:16 (Mecca time)
Former England and Arsenal star Ian Wright, on Tuesday evening, attacked the American organization of the 2026 World Cup, describing it as a “World Cup of chaos.”
Wright’s criticism, which he posted in a video clip on his Instagram account, came in response to the recurring news about the American authorities preventing a number of fans, players and officials from entering the country, the most recent of whom is Somali international referee Omar Arten.
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Wright expressed his shock at the procedures, saying: “Every few hours a new story comes out, and now it has affected the referees.”
He added that the matter is “unfortunate and sad,” especially in light of the high costs incurred by fans, including ticket, accommodation, and transportation prices, which he described as “astronomical.”
The English star questioned the double standards in the media, comparing the current “suspicious silence” to the fierce media attack that Qatar was subjected to during its hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
He denounced, “Where does this compare to the fierce attack and defamation that Qatar was subjected to previously? Is this really the spirit of football?”
Wright believed that the team that wins the title will first have to pass through “total and severe chaos.”
He concluded his speech by expressing his sympathy for the American masses, whose position he described as “extremely embarrassing” due to the actions of their country’s authorities.
Ian Wright is one of the legends of English football and the Arsenal club, as he wrote a golden career in the 1990s and became Arsenal’s all-time top scorer before Thierry Henry later broke this record.
He also won the English Premier League and FA Cup titles, and participated in 213 Premier League matches, in which he scored 113 goals.
At the international level, he represented the England national team in 33 matches, during which he scored 9 goals, although injuries prevented him from competing in the World Cup finals.
After retiring from playing in 2000, Wright became one of the most famous and prominent sports analysts in British and international media networks.
Wright was not far from issues of racism, as he confronted them on stadiums and locker rooms, and condemned them publicly, using his platform to defend black-skinned players and demand that abusers be held accountable.
