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The 2026 FIFA World Cup is about to kick off across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Justin Morrow wants to make sure the conversation about racism in football doesn’t get drowned out by the opening whistles.
Morrow, a retired MLS defender who spent 12 years in the league and represented the US Men’s National Team, published an op-ed through FIFPRO on June 8 laying out a blueprint for what he believes anti-racism work should look like in professional football. His central argument: players cannot be the only ones doing the heavy lifting.
The case for collective responsibility
Morrow now serves as Executive Director of Black Players for Change, an organization comprising around 70 players that has become one of the most visible advocacy groups in North American football.
The core of his argument is structural, not sentimental. Morrow contends that addressing racism in football demands three pillars working in concert: player education, community support networks, and expert-led anti-discrimination programs. None of those three can function properly if the expectation is that victims of racism are the ones driving change.
Progress worth noting, gaps worth closing
Morrow’s op-ed isn’t all critique. He points to real, measurable progress. Since FIFA introduced its national anti-racism protocol, on-field incidents of racism and discrimination have dropped by 70%.
His emphasis on education is particularly worth unpacking. Player education doesn’t just mean teaching athletes how to report incidents. It means equipping players, fans, and staff with the language and frameworks to recognize discrimination in its subtler forms.
Community support, the second pillar, addresses what happens after an incident. Players who experience racism need more than a statement from their club’s PR department. They need mental health resources, legal support, and the knowledge that their career won’t suffer for speaking up. Black Players for Change has been building exactly this kind of infrastructure since its founding in 2020, when MLS players organized in response to the killing of George Floyd.
The third pillar, expert-led anti-discrimination programs, is where Morrow draws the sharpest line between performative action and real work. Anti-racism efforts led by people who actually study discrimination for a living tend to produce better outcomes than those designed by marketing teams.
What this means for the sport’s future
The 2026 World Cup represents a unique inflection point. It’s the first time the tournament has been held across three countries simultaneously, and the first World Cup on North American soil since the US hosted alone in 1994.
For FIFA and the host nations’ football federations, Morrow’s advocacy creates a clear benchmark. The 70% reduction in on-field incidents is proof that institutional action works. The question now is whether governing bodies will invest in the education, support, and expertise needed to push that number closer to zero.
For players, particularly players of color competing on the world’s biggest stage, the stakes are personal. Morrow’s 12 years of playing experience lends credibility to his insistence that this distinction matters.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
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