Former French soccer star Eric Cantona said he will not watch the upcoming FIFA World Cup [1].
Cantona's refusal to engage with the tournament highlights a growing rift between traditionalists and the current state of professional soccer. His critique centers on the perceived loss of the game's essence due to technological intervention and commercialization.
Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival in France, Cantona promoted his new documentary focused on modern football [2], [4]. During the event, he said he expressed significant disappointment with the current trajectory of the sport [1], [2]. He specifically criticized the use of the Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, which he said has negatively impacted the flow and spirit of the game [1], [2].
The 2026 FIFA World Cup [1] is expected to be one of the largest iterations of the tournament. However, Cantona said he is not looking forward to the event [2]. He suggested that the modern version of the sport has diverged too far from the game he played and loved.
Cantona's presence at the film festival served as a platform to explore his personal demons and his relationship with football through cinema [3], [4]. By linking his documentary to his critique of the World Cup, the former athlete positioned his cinematic work as a reflection on what the sport has lost in its pursuit of precision, and profit.
His comments reflect a broader sentiment among some former players who argue that the introduction of VAR has stripped soccer of its spontaneity. While the technology aims to reduce human error, critics like Cantona said it removes the emotional unpredictability that defines the sport [1], [2].
“Cantona said he will not watch the upcoming FIFA World Cup”
Cantona's public boycott of the 2026 World Cup underscores a philosophical conflict within global soccer. As FIFA integrates more technology to ensure accuracy, it faces pushback from figures who believe the 'human element' and the organic flow of the match are more valuable than clinical correctness. This tension suggests that while the sport continues to grow commercially, it faces a crisis of identity regarding its traditional roots.
