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Claim: Multiple sources, including Yen, an Accra-based media outlet, allege that Uruguay, Argentina and seven other countries have withdrawn from the World Cup tournament.
Verdict: Misleading. DUBAWA’s investigations showed that the story did not concern a recent boycott of the 2026 World Cup. Instead, it focuses on countries that boycotted the international game since 1934, rather than those that have recently done so.
Full Text
Multiple sources allege that Uruguay, Argentina and seven other countries have withdrawn from the World Cup tournament.
The other countries listed include India, USSR, Russia, Chile, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
The story was first published by Yen, an Accra-based online news portal, on Sept. 19 and updated on Sept. 25, 2025. The article was titled “9 countries that withdrew from World Cup Tournament as Spain considers boycott.”
Yen later followed the story with a Facebook post on Oct. 18, 2025, stating, “Uruguay, Argentina among 9 countries that withdrew from the World Cup tournament.”
The story has since been posted on other blogs and online news portals here, here, here, and here.
The social media data revealed Yen’s Facebook post has garnered over 866 likes, 62 comments, and six shares as of Oct. 21, 2025.
Commenting on the post, Facebook user Bismark Owusu Boateng wrote, “Fabrizio has not posted anything about World Cup withdrawal.”
Another Facebook user, Boss Master, added, “They are very wise nations. Ghana should do the same.”
DUBAWA decided to investigate the claim due to its potential to deceive readers and social media users in the country.
Verification
DUBAWA’s research showed that the story did not concern a recent boycott of the 2026 World Cup.
Instead, it focuses on countries that boycotted the international game since 1934, rather than those that have recently done so.
The same story, published by Givemesport, properly situates the narrative around the boycott of the World Cup.
“The first team to ever boycott the World Cup was, in fact, the maiden winner of the tournament. Uruguay, in response to a minimal number of European teams competing in the 1930 edition of the competition, chose not to travel to Italy in order to defend their crown in 1934,” the report said.
As of Sept. 5, 2025, six South American countries have secured their qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico.
These countries are Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Colombia. Additionally, in Europe, England is the first team to secure its place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, India failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after finishing third in its Asian qualification group.
The Blue Tigers’ journey ended with a 2-1 defeat to the reigning Asian champions, Qatar, in their final second-round qualifier on June 11.
The loss left India third in Group A, missing out on the top-two spot needed to progress to the third round of the AFC qualifiers.
Spain is the only country that has threatened to withdraw from the tournament if Israel qualifies for the World Cup.
Israel currently sits third in their qualifying group but remains well within reach of at least a play-off spot. They are six points behind group leaders Norway and level on points with second-placed Italy, with three games remaining.
Only the group winner earns automatic qualification for the World Cup, while the runner-up could secure a play-off berth depending on results in other groups.
Conclusion
Reports that Uruguay, Argentina and seven other countries have withdrawn from the World Cup tournament are misleading.
