Real Betis defender Hector Bellerin is perhaps one of the more well-versed soccer players in the world. The Spaniard is a quality player in a solid team in one of the top European leagues. However, he also has interests in a series of other ventures as well. 



During his time with <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> club <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a>, Bellerin became a significant shareholder of Forest Green Rovers. The now <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/english-league-two-tv-schedule/">League Two</a> side is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/oxford-utd-reveals-plans-for-electric-solar-sustainable-stadium-20240214-WST-489541.html">currently</a> one of the leading teams across the continent on environmental and sustainability concerns. The defender also previously pledged to plant 3,000 trees for every Arsenal victory following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.



Along with environmental causes, Bellerin also freely discusses politics and social issues as well. The right-back was invited to speak at the prestigious <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/hector-bellerin-right-criticize-arsenalfantv-feeding-off-clubs-failures-20180218-CMS-233524.html">Oxford Union</a> in 2021. The discussion covered a plethora of notable topics. Other high-profile celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, and Diego Maradona previously made appearances with the group.



<h2>Bellerin claims soccer is becoming more ‘elitist’ ahead of 2026 World Cup</h2>



Bellerin now recently sat down to conduct a lengthy and wide-ranging interview with <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68286028" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">BBC Sport</a>. While he was asked a series of questions, the defender made interesting comments regarding FIFA and the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/category/world-cup-2026/">2026 World Cup</a>. Bellerin claimed that the governing body is focusing solely on money, rather than the actual fans.



“Football every day is more about margins, about can we make more money and less about the people that support it and the people that truly make football great,” Bellerin <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68286028" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> the news outlet.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240216_WST_489901_Bellerin-elitists-1200x670_b55b90bd.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-489933" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Bellerin-elitists-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Bellerin-elitists-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Bellerin-elitists-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/Bellerin-elitists.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



As far as the 2026 World Cup itself, the defender does not like how spread out the tournament will be. The competition is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “It is becoming every day something more elitist, in my opinion, and having it in three different countries makes it more difficult for fans to follow their nation,” continued the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/real-betis-tv-schedule-for-us-viewers/">Betis</a> star.



“We are losing a little bit of the essence of what football truly is and who are the people that actually make football, which is the people who follow us and watch us every weekend.”



“I understand that football, like every single industry, needs to modernize itself to be able to follow changes in society, but sometimes it can’t go that far.”



<h2>Average fans will find travel costly at the upcoming tournament</h2>



Bellerin certainly has a point about the sheer distance between the host cities of the upcoming World Cup. Traveling from Vancouver to Miami, both host areas of the tournament, would be over 3,000 total miles one way. This is the same distance as London is from Baghdad.



The lengthy distance does not, however, mean that larger countries such as the United States cannot host a World Cup. Nevertheless, central fixtures in the later knockout rounds could lower overall costs for fans.



The current round of 16 fixtures are in Vancouver, Mexico City, New Jersey and several places in between. The average fan of a team potentially wanting to travel all over these areas could not afford to make the trips.



Money, however, as Bellerin alluded to in the interview, certainly motivates FIFA’s final decisions. This was evident in the organization moving the entire tournament’s schedule to accommodate Qatar in 2022.



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Bellerin says sprawling 2026 World Cup will be hard on fans

Real Betis defender Hector Bellerin has claimed that soccer is becoming more elitist as the 2026 World Cup will be held in three countries.

<figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-399115" src="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Hector-Bellerin-Barcelona.jpg" alt="Héctor Bellerín Barcelona" width="1200" height="725" srcset="https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/09/16073808/Hector-Bellerin-Barcelona.jpg 1200w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/09/16073808/Hector-Bellerin-Barcelona-600x363.jpg 600w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/09/16073808/Hector-Bellerin-Barcelona-150x91.jpg 150w, https://images.futbolsites.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/09/16073808/Hector-Bellerin-Barcelona-768x464.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure>
The latest <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a> addition in a busy transfer window is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/arsenal-tv-schedule/">Arsenal</a> wing-back Héctor Bellerín. The Spaniard’s contract is a significant pay cut, and it only lasts one season at Camp Nou.&nbsp;
Barcelona does not pay any transfer fee to the Gunners. That being said, Arsenal included a 25% sell-on clause in the deal. Should Barcelona sell the forward in the future, Arsenal receives a quarter of that fee.
Bellerín is a natural replacement for Sergiño Dest. The American right back departed Barcelona earlier in the day, joining AC Milan on a loan deal.
<h3>Héctor Bellerín joins FC Barcelona</h3>
Earlier in his career, Bellerín garnered acclaim for being one of the top full back prospects in Europe. However, a significant knee injury in January 2019 dealt a hammer blow to his stock and value at the Emirates. Yet, a loan spell with Real Betis in the previous campaign showed great progress in the Spanish international’s return to form.
Betis emerged as the favorites to acquire the defender on a permanent deal during this summer transfer window. Nevertheless, Barcelona gets their man at the back via Héctor Bellerín. With Dest gone, the now-former Arsenal player likely receives a wealth of opportunities this season in Spain and Europe.
Previously a mainstay in Arsenal’s defense, Bellerín fell down the pecking order at his position by manager Mikel Arteta.&nbsp;In fact, usual center back Ben White started every match for Arsenal at the right back position while Takehiro Tomiyasu has recovered from injury. Cedric Soares is also a right back option for Arteta at Arsenal.
Now 27, Bellerín will look to build off of his successful season with Betis last year. The right back rejoins Barca after being on Arsenal’s books for the last 11 years. Bellerín was previously in Barca’s youth setup up until 2011.
The fullback could make his senior debut for the club on Saturday, when Barca play away to Sevilla. Bellerín could also make his home debut for his hometown club on Tuesday, when Barca faces Viktoria Plzeň in their first Champions League game of the 2022/23 campaign.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Icon Sportswire

Barcelona adds another free transfer with Arsenal’s Héctor Bellerín

The latest addition to an already hectic summer at Barcelona is Héctor Bellerín, the right back who fell out of favor at Arsenal.

Barcelona adds another free transfer with Arsenal's Héctor Bellerín - World Soccer Talk

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Bellerin says sprawling 2026 World Cup will be hard on fans

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Barcelona adds another free transfer with Arsenal’s Héctor Bellerín