Mexico violence, Donald Trump threats, altercations put England World Cup match in jeopardy

need to know

England’s group stage match against Ghana is in jeopardy due to licensing dispute at Gillette Stadium, with a potential Round of 16 fixture in Mexico also in jeopardy

Everything you need to know about England’s World Cup match in jeopardy…

England’s group stage match against Ghana is in jeopardy due to a licensing dispute at Gillette Stadium. Local authorities in Foxborough are threatening to withhold necessary entertainment permits unless they receive £5.8 million in public safety funding to cover security costs for seven games scheduled in the town. A potential Round of 16 fixture at the Estadio Azteca could also be in jeopardy as the historic stadium faces major renovation delays. If England win Group L, their path will lead them to Mexico City, but there is a serious risk that the venue will not be ready in time for the start of the tournament. The prevalence of cartel violence in Mexico also poses major safety concerns for traveling fans. Following the murder of a prominent drug lord, the British government has advised visitors to take extreme caution, leading to calls for FIFA to strip Mexico of hosting duties to ensure the safety of supporters. Donald Trump has also previously threatened to pressure FIFA to move matches from “radical left” cities like Boston. Political friction between the White House and local leaders could force the match to be moved elsewhere in the US at short notice, as England are scheduled to play in Foxborough, near Boston, although the president has not recently repeated those comments from last year.The official FIFA Fan Fest in the New York and New Jersey area was abruptly canceled months before kick-off. This will affect England fans planning to attend the final group game against Panama at MetLife Stadium. This is because centralized celebration venues have given way to smaller, more decentralized community events. Instability in the U.S. government is hampering security preparedness, as Department of Homeland Security funding lapses leave host cities uncertain about federal aid. Without these funds, it will not be possible to order vital safety equipment for the stadium hosting England, making it more likely that the match will be moved to a better-prepared venue hundreds of miles away. England fans will face unprecedented costs and logistical disruption if the match is moved. With thousands of people already paying for non-refundable flights and hotels in certain regions, supporters have no guarantee of getting their money back if the venue is changed at the last minute due to political intimidation or local funding issues. Frictions over immigration policy and soaring ticket prices have led to calls for European teams to boycott the tournament. England’s participation remains strong, but a combination of political instability and security concerns has caused disruption of an “alarming scale”, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been asked to address. Follow Mirror: