Without a vaccine there is no World Cup

Any footballer who wants to receive Southgate’s call to play in the World Cup must comply with the vaccination guidelines against Covid-19, otherwise he risks losing his place. The English coach is considering it. His team meets Iran on November 21 in the first match of group B. It will also be the first day of competition, six days after the landing of the three lions team in Qatar. The country’s regulations oblige any visitor to the country who has not received their vaccine to confine themselves for five days. A situation that would complicate the preparation of the aforementioned match against Iran.

For this reason, Southgate contemplates the possibility of leaving footballers who are not vaccinated at home. That, or prepare its premiere against Iran without them. They are the two alternatives, although FIFA is trying to convince Qatar to relax its regulations for the tournament. England are not the only team keeping an eye on these moves. France, for example, has N’Golo Kanté, one of the international stars who has refused vaccination.

English clubs like Chelsea or Crystal Palace have had to carry out their pre-season tours with absences. Those of Stamford Bridge do not have the aforementioned Kanté in their expedition in the United States. In the same way, Patrick Vieira had to leave up to ten footballers at home. Wilfried Zaha, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and Michael Olise are some of the players who are not participating in the Palace’s tour of Singapore and Australia due to not meeting the entry requirements to both countries, according to the Palace. One of these requirements is having received a vaccine against Covid-19.

In January, the Premier League explained that 80% of the players in the highest category of English football had complied with the vaccination guidelinebut there has been no update since then.

–