In solidarity with Iranian football team — Workers World says: ‘Move the Games!’

Maureen Skehan of World World Party, March 30, 2026.

Following is the contribution by Workers World Party’s Maureen Skehan to the Boston Coalition for Palestine’s March 30, 2026, news conference in support of the call to “Move the World Cup games out of the U.S.” 

In honor of Working Women’s History Month, Workers World Party salutes the courageous women of Gaza and Palestine, of Lebanon, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Sudan, Congo and every nation where women are resisting imperialist war, racist terror, land theft, recolonization and gentrification, including here at home. 

Gaza has set a heroic example for the world — and today, on the 50th anniversary of Palestine Land Day and as members of the Boston Coalition for Palestine (BCFP), we have joined the national call from Black Alliance for Peace and the Anti-Fascist Football Coalition, and we demand, “Move the World Cup games out of the U.S.!” and “BDS — boycott, divest, sanction — the U.S. for its genocidal war crimes!” 

Let “BDS the U.S.!” become an international battle cry of the workers and oppressed globally — reminiscent of the African National Congress’s (ANC) demand in the 1980s to boycott and divest from all economic, cultural and educational activity with the bloody apartheid regime in South Africa. As the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) told the colonizers: “Now you have touched the women. You have struck a rock. You have dislodged a boulder, and you will be crushed!” 

Right now, U.S. President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and FIFA President Infantino — who awarded Trump a phony “FIFA Peace Prize” — have the blood of thousands of Palestinian, Lebanese and Iranian people on their hands! The World Cup should not be allowed to take place in the U.S., period! 

We are here in solidarity with the Iranian national football team, who have refused to play in a country that is conducting a murderous war against the Iranian people, and with the Iranian nation, which is defending its sovereignty through resistance to imperialism in West Asia and globally. 

We love the global sport of soccer that unifies athletes and fans across the planet. And we condemn the Zionist, capitalist heads of FIFA who put on an exclusive show-for-profit for the rich while excluding the poor. We condemn the Trump regime’s escalation of ICE repression, forced kidnappings and militarized police violence in our communities, making the U.S. a dangerous place to visit for football players and international fans.

[Chant] “Move the games now! Move the games now!”

In the spirit of global resistance and working-class unity, we urge forces in the antiwar movement, including students, community and labor organizations, the antiracist, climate justice and abolition movements, anti-ICE networks and beyond to join us in demanding: “Move the World Cup now!” 

Let’s keep mobilizing to strike against this dying system and its insatiable war machine! Let’s BDS the U.S.! And Zionist Israel! 

[Chant] “BDS the U.S.! BDS the U.S.!”