Democratic Party Drew Criticism For World Cup Post

The California Democratic Party drew criticism Thursday after posting a message on social media that said, “You’re not allowed to watch the World Cup if you’ve ever voted against immigration.”

The post quickly sparked backlash online, arriving just as Americans from across the political spectrum were preparing to watch Team USA begin its 2026 FIFA World Cup run against Paraguay.

The comment was widely mocked on X, where critics questioned both the timing and the logic behind it.

“Every one of those other Countries has its own immigration policy, where you can’t just cross the border. The hypocrisy is crazy,” one user wrote.

Another person responded, “Why? I don’t even understand the logic to this post.”

Others posted sarcastic replies, accusing the party of trying to inject politics into an event many fans see as a rare chance for Americans to rally around the same team.

The California Republican Party also responded to the post, arguing that the World Cup should not be used as a political talking point.

“The World Cup is a beautiful event that brings people together from around the world and should have nothing to do with politics,” California Republican Party Communications Manager Francisco Bedoya said. “Rather than trolling on social media, they should put their phones down, touch some grass, and enjoy this historic World Cup. But, if Democrats want to make it political and continue to divide Americans, then we’re here to call out their hypocrisy.”

The controversy comes as the United States helps host the men’s World Cup for the first time since 1994. This year’s tournament is being jointly hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with the United States carrying the largest share of the schedule.

Of the tournament’s 104 matches, 78 are being played in the U.S. across 11 cities. The most high-profile rounds, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, are also scheduled to take place in the United States.