Why the 2026 World Cup is so controversial
The 2026 World Cup has come under fire even before kickoff. Criticism is mounting over US President Donald Trump’s travel bans, high ticket prices, the
The 2026 World Cup has come under fire even before kickoff. Criticism is mounting over US President Donald Trump’s travel bans, high ticket prices, the expansion to 48 teams as well as its environmental impact. 1. Isn't football's governing body FIFA supposed to be politically neutral? In the months leading up to the 2026 World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino got unusually cozy with US President Donald Trump. This included sitting on a stage wearing a red USA baseball cap during the president's Board of Peace meeting, and presenting Trump with the newly created "FIFA Peace Prize" during the World Cup draw. According to its own statutes, FIFA is supposed to be politically neutral. However, Infantino has created the impression that he is deliberately mixing international sports politics with the interests of a state. The fact that the United States is at war with Iran is a first; never before has a World Cup host nation been engaged in a military conflict with one of the participating teams. 2. Shouldn't all fans be able to attend their team's games? US entry regulations are also drawing sharp criticism. Tightened visa rules mean fans from several participating nations are effectively barred from attending. For Iran and Haiti, a complete entry ban applies to spectators — only the teams and their support staff are allowed to enter the country. Fans of Senegal will find it difficult to follow their team to the World Cup in the USA Image: Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto/picture alliance It will also be virtually impossible for fans from Senegal and the Ivory Coast to attend games, as the issuing of tourist visas for citizens of these nations has been largely suspended — partly because, in the past, many travelers from these countries overstayed their visas in the US.
At one point, the US government had introduced a security deposit of up to $15,000 (€12,874) for visitors from some countries — a sum they were to be reimbursed after their departure. This measure was lifted for many ticket holders shortly before the tournament began. US immigration policies and the possibility of operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are fueling a sense of unease. In the run-up to the event, the US government declined to rule out the possibility of checks or arrests in the vicinity of World Cup stadiums. 3. Should a ticket for a game really cost $690,000? Ticket prices at the start of sales were exceptionally high; many seats went on sale for thousands of dollars each, while premium tickets for the final originally cost around $11,000. FIFA is using "dynamic pricing," under which prices fluctuate significantly depending on demand. Even within the same sales phase, fans are paying different amounts for identical seats. Added to this are reports that buyers, despite selecting a specific category or location within the stadium, have received tickets for inferior seats. Fan organizations and consumer protection groups accuse FIFA of price gouging, a lack of transparency, and unfair sales practices and have filed a formal complaint with the European Union. The attorneys general of the US states of New Jersey and New York have launched investigations into FIFA's ticketing. With just weeks to go before the opening game, very few matches had sold out. As of May 28, the cheapest ticket for the final available on FIFA's website was listed at $8,625.
The BriefWire