Zurich's Left Party seeks FIFA Club World Cup 2026 public screening ban

A political showdown brews in Zurich over football's biggest event. Will the city silence the cheers—or stand against the tournament's controversies?

, and Administrator

2026 January 30 . 5:45 AM

1 min read

The image shows a crowd of people standing in front of a building with a stage in the center. On... — The image shows a crowd of people standing in front of a building with a stage in the center. On the stage there are speakers and a screen, and on the right side of the image there are flags and banners with text. In the background there are buildings with windows, and the sky is filled with clouds. The people in the image are wearing caps and bags, suggesting that they are participating in a protest in Berlin.

Zurich's Left Party seeks FIFA Club World Cup 2026 public screening ban

Zurich's Left Party (AL) has pushed for a ban on public screenings of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The group wants the city to reject any events on municipal land, citing political and ethical concerns. This follows a similar campaign by the AL against the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The AL has formally submitted a motion to the City Council, demanding an official protest against the 2026 tournament. They argue that the event, mostly hosted in the U.S., takes place in a country with 'inhumane conditions' and 'fascist tendencies'. The party also wants Zurich to block funding or permits for any public screenings.

In 2022, the AL successfully persuaded the council to cancel an 800-person tent event for that year's World Cup. Energy concerns were cited at the time. The group's latest motion repeats its opposition to public viewings, though no individual politician or faction has been named in connection with the 2026 proposal.

The AL's stance reflects a broader pattern of resistance to major football tournaments. Their previous efforts targeted Qatar 2022, and now they are turning their focus to the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in North America.

The motion will now be reviewed by Zurich's City Council. If passed, it would prevent public screenings on city-owned sites during the 2026 FIFA Club World Cup. The decision could also signal the city's political position on the tournament's host nations.