Dana White’s Controversial Take on Soccer Resurfaces Ahead of World Cup
UFC president Dana White has always been known for his bold and often controversial statements. One of his most talked-about opinions has come back into the spotlight just days before his friend, former US President Donald Trump, hosts the World Cup in the United States.
Trump has become closely associated with the global sporting event, which is set to begin in exactly two weeks. However, it seems that White will not be attending the tournament. In fact, he has previously criticized the sport itself.
As the World Cup approaches, a 2018 interview with the Calgary Sun resurfaced where White described soccer as “the least talented sport on the planet.” He told the outlet: “Soccer? Whole ‘nother ballgame. Can’t stand soccer, I think it’s the least talented sport on Earth. There’s a reason three-year-olds can play soccer, okay? You run around and kick a ball.”
White continued, “When you’re playing a game where the net is this big [gestures] and the score is 3-1? Are you s****ing me right now? Do you know how untalented you have to be to score three points when the net is this big?”
Defiant L’s on Twitter / X
Dana White: “Can’t stand soccer, I think is the least talented sport on earth. There’s a reason 3 year olds can play soccer.”pic.twitter.com/VLmf48QOno— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) May 27, 2026
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The comments sparked immediate backlash from fans of soccer, who took to social media to express their frustration with White’s remarks. One user wrote: “What an idiot. Soccer players are by far the best all-round athletes of all sports.” Another joked: “Does he know three-year-olds fight as well, or is he just an extremely stupid person who lacks self-awareness at an alarming level?”
Another comment read: “Dude invented a sport where you slap each other. F*** you pal.” A different user said: “Wait til he finds out running is a sport and fishing. And that ANYONE can fight. It’s not always being able to do something that’s hard. It’s about being able to do something better than everyone, even if it’s something everyone can do.”
One fan added: “Wow, extremely bad take. Would rather my girls learn team work, accountability and working with strengths and weaknesses than whatever he is promoting does for society.”
Despite his criticism, White is set to make headlines during the same week as the World Cup. He will host a UFC event outdoors at the White House, potentially overshadowing the global spectacle.
White and Trump have had a long-standing relationship, with Trump once opening the doors of his Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City for the first UFC event. When Trump began his first serious campaign for the presidency in 2016, he asked White to speak at the Republican National Convention.
Although his inner circle urged him to decline, White ultimately agreed. “Everybody said, ‘Don’t do it. Don’t do it,’” White told Time Magazine. “It was about more than ‘You don’t want to get into politics.’ The bigger one was ‘He’s never gonna win.’ And I was like, ‘Well, whether he wins or not, the guy’s been a good friend to me.’”
