Cepeda proposes Colombia host a World Cup; opponents accuse him of seeking votes with football

Senator Iván Cepeda, a leftist presidential candidate in Colombia, has proposed that the country host a World Cup tournament. The announcement was made amidst the current football fervor, just nine days before the June 21 runoff election.

Cepeda, an ally of President Gustavo Petro, faces off against far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella in the upcoming election. His proposal to host the prestigious football event was shared via an Instagram video, stating, "I believe it should be a government's purpose to make Colombia a host of a World Cup."

However, Cepeda's proposal has drawn criticism from his political opponents. They accuse him of making a last-minute bid to attract voters by leveraging the popularity of football. Critics point to Cepeda's past statements, where he reportedly deemed it "repugnant" for the right-wing to politicize football six years ago. Furthermore, they highlight that the Petro administration has reduced the sports budget, leading to protests from athletes reliant on state funding.

The election campaign has seen football become a significant element, with De la Espriella frequently appearing in the national team's jersey at rallies, a gesture the left opposes. A judge had previously prohibited the use of the jersey as an emblem, but the Supreme Court of Justice later suspended that decision. Historically, Colombia withdrew its bid to host the 1986 World Cup, with the government at the time opting to allocate resources to public works instead.

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I believe it should be a government's purpose to make Colombia a host of a World Cup.