Defection in sport: when politics influences national selections
The world of sport is often a playground where athletic performances delight fans. But sometimes, another actor gets talked about: politics. This is what happened recently in Eritrea, where the men’s football team decided to withdraw from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. A surprising decision which in reality hides government pressure aimed at avoiding player defections. when traveling abroad.
Eritrea, a small country in the Horn of Africa, would thus have put an end to its dreams of participating in a Football World Cup for the first time. According to The Guardian, the Eritrean government fears that certain players will take advantage of these meetings abroad to defect and seek asylum in other countries. This withdrawal is part of a tumultuous history of the Eritrean selection, which has already experienced numerous defections in the past.
This decision has caused outrage among football fans in Eritrea, who see it as an attack on their passion. “They are killing Eritrean football,” says an anonymous source quoted by The Guardian. The Eritrean government is renowned for its repressive policies, and this situation only confirms the image of an authoritarian regime that does not tolerate dissent.
Eritrea is not an isolated case. In other countries too, politics can influence the sporting performances of national teams. Chile experienced a similar situation during the Pan American Games, where several Cuban athletes took advantage of the opportunity to request political asylum. These situations reflect the political tensions that exist between certain countries, and where sport becomes a means for athletes to escape a reality that they reject.
These defections from the world of sport show how politics can impact every aspect of our lives, including on the sports field. They also testify to the courage and determination of certain athletes who are ready to sacrifice everything to defend their beliefs.
Let’s hope that these situations do not become the norm, and that sport can still be a place of exchange and unity, where political differences are put aside for the good of the game and fair play. In the meantime, let’s remain attentive to what is happening in the world of sport, because defections are not only the prerogative of politicians, but also of athletes who want to express their voice and defend their rights.