Things have started about as poorly as they could for Liverpool in the English Premier League.
While they currently sit in the top half of the EPL table, Liverpool went 0-3 in their three October matches. They lost to Manchester United, Chelsea, and lowly Brentford. While the season is still young, questions have swirled around what may be behind their current EPL losing streak.
One theory involves the upcoming 2026 World Cup, which will present new and unique challenges for many players. While players won’t admit to the distractions, the sheer volume and severity of the issues are certainly on their minds.
Below, we’ll look at why the tournament could be quietly distracting football’s biggest stars.
Stars Still Focused on World Cup Qualifying
An expanded World Cup field means more qualifying matches and more countries having the chance to make it to North America this summer. Given that the EPL only recently started its season, it is easy to imagine some players having their minds set on their national teams over the last few months.
While this distraction could persist this fall, many teams will soon lock in their qualifying spots. That will end those matches and bring players’ focus back to the EPL this winter. While many national teams will continue to schedule friendlies to prepare for the World Cup, they won’t have the pressure of qualification matches.
The good news is that most competitive European Clubs are seeing similar issues, though they have not lost like Liverpool has.
Sports Betting Takes Center Stage
The 2026 World Cup is coming to North America as regulated sports betting continues to grow across the continent.
Canada has been slowly building legal markets in Ontario and Alberta, where World Cup matches will be held. Bettors will have dozens of sportsbooks to choose from, as featured on Calgary2026.ca’s betting apps page. With so many options available, many fans are expected to bet on matches they are attending.
The US has built a larger market, but it has also seen a rise in sports prediction markets. These controversial platforms do not qualify as gambling, allowing bettors to wager on events from anywhere in the US. The new industry lacks regulation or rules, raising serious concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Mexico has a largely unregulated market, with more sportsbooks likely to join before the tournament kicks off in June.
With fans able to wager from all three host countries, athletes will likely face even more harassment than in past World Cups. Letting down your country is hard enough, but fearing repercussions from angry bettors makes things even more dangerous.
While players may not talk about this issue, you can rest assured they are anticipating the new sports betting markets, which will lead to some extra dangers this summer.
Some Issues are Bigger Than Football
It is becoming impossible to discuss the 2026 World Cup without mentioning the turmoil currently unfolding in the US. Divisions have grown among Americans and the country’s two political parties. It has led to violence and corruption and could ultimately result in liberal cities losing out on their hosting duties this summer.
One of the topics driving tensions in the US is immigration. The White House has organized a prominent and controversial effort to arrest and deport anyone they determine to be here illegally. Stories continue to circulate about federal agents illegally arresting and detaining citizens simply because of their nationality.
International relations have also been difficult, and have some fans and officials concerned that the President could ban fans from traveling to the World Cup, including those from Argentina and Brazil.
The religion of Islam has also come under increased fire over the last year. That will make things tricky for many players, including Liverpool star Mohamed Salah. There will be pressure to speak up for Muslims everywhere, which could have repercussions that go far beyond the pitch.
All of these issues are forcing players to prepare for a truly unique World Cup. Will they feel safe bringing their families? Are they worried about their country being banned from attending the tournament? Will the current World Cup host cities change over the next month, putting all matches in highly conservative US cities?
Many players won’t mention these topics at all, but rest assured, they keep them up at night and may affect their play on the pitch during the EPL season.
