FIFA aims for this year’s expanded tournament to be the most dazzling and profitable yet. Nonetheless, several challenges threaten to derail that vision.
There’s an undeniable charm about the FIFA World Cup—often referred to as “football” or “soccer.” Even if you’ve never witnessed your country’s team hoist the trophy, which is the case for most fans, the allure remains. Of the over 80 national teams that have participated since the tournament’s inception in 1930, only eight have actually claimed victory: Brazil (5), Germany (4), Italy (4), Argentina (3), France (2), Uruguay (2), Spain (1), and England (1), long before I came along.
Even those indifferent to football can recognize that the World Cup is the grandest sporting spectacle on the planet. In many regions, even casual observers, like my Mexican wife, find themselves captivated by it. For dedicated fans, the enchantment is immediate. In 2022, over 1.5 billion people across the globe tuned in to watch Lionel Messi’s Argentina edge out France 4-3 in a thrilling final, marking it as the most-watched event worldwide.
Despite its working-class origins, football has evolved into the world’s most financially lucrative sport, increasingly entangled with corporate interests. In his insightful book, El fútbol a sol y sombra (Soccer in Sun and Shadow, 1995), the late Uruguayan writer and football enthusiast Eduardo Galeano examines the tension between the beauty of the game and the harsh realities of politics:
“The scorn of many conservative intellectuals comes from their belief that soccer-worship is exactly the religion people deserve. Possessed by soccer, the proles think with their feet, which is the only way they can think, and through such primitive ecstasy they fulfill their dreams. The animal instinct overtakes human reason, ignorance crushes culture, and the riff-raff get what they want. In contrast, many leftist intellectuals denigrate soccer because it castrates the masses and derails their revolutionary ardor. Bread and circus, circus without the bread: hypnotized by the ball, which exercises a perverse fascination, workers’ consciousness becomes atrophied, and they let themselves be led about like sheep by their class enemies.”
The Most Lucrative Tournament Yet?
FIFA, often described as a greedy governing body, is optimistic that this year’s expanded World Cup—hosted in the three NAFTA nations of North America (USA, Canada, and Mexico) with a total of 48 teams, up from the typical 32—will be the most awe-inspiring and financially fruitful to date. The organization is already forecasting revenues of $8.9 billion, nearly double that of the 2024 Olympic Games.
However, numerous obstacles could prevent this from occurring. These include Trump’s controversial influence and the growing tensions between the three co-host nations. Additionally, rampant price hikes in all three countries—especially in the U.S., which will host 78 of the 104 matches—are negatively impacting attendance. Jon Sopel from iNews reports:
“Hotels in host cities have raised their prices to the maximum. In New York, the train operator taking fans to MetLife Stadium has increased the 18-mile return fare from $13 to $150 (unlike Moscow, which offered free train travel for fans on match day during the 2018 World Cup).”
Fan responses indicate discontent; hotel bookings are considerably lower than FIFA’s projections, leading to price reductions. Ticket sales have also dwindled, with even matches featuring the U.S. national team struggling to sell out. Trump has positioned himself at the forefront of this World Cup, but what happens if he can’t claim it as the biggest, best, and greatest tournament ever?
Additionally, the geopolitical landscape, marred by escalating conflicts in Ukraine and the Persian Gulf, does not lend itself to a celebratory atmosphere. Former English football pundit Gary Lineker commented on Morning Joe, “We have never had a World Cup where the host nation is at war with one of the competitors.”
Trump’s administration is actively pursuing a strategy of dominance over the American continent, including its two World Cup co-hosts. Following the recent visit from U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to Guantánamo, one might wonder if Trump will authorize military action against the energy-strained island during the World Cup. It wouldn’t be surprising.
🇺🇸🇨🇺 Pete Hegseth Said the U.S. CONTROLS the Future of Cuba
He is risking the lives of Americans, and 11 MILLION Cubans, to take yet another Latin country from Trump.
Cuba is only 90 miles from Florida; if they want to attack, they can hurt civilians. This is RISKY.
Also, these… pic.twitter.com/vBe4jP8ztD
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) June 10, 2026
Meanwhile, the economic fallout from the U.S.’s military agenda against Iran is already being felt. Notably, the World Cup has been suspended twice in its 94-year history—in 1942 during World War II and in 1946 as the world began rebuilding.
Now, we stand at the brink of another potential world conflict, while the primary instigator, the United States, prepares to co-host the World Cup in a decidedly inhospitable atmosphere.
Thus far, Trump’s administration has barred the Iranian national team from staying overnight on U.S. soil, requiring them to travel back and forth from Tijuana on each match day. This imposes a significant disadvantage for Iran.
Moreover, the administration is actively working to obstruct the team it is currently attacking. The Iranian squad faced significant delays obtaining visas at the U.S. Consulate in Turkey, resulting in 15 members being denied entry. U.S. authorities have also restricted the number of Iranian fans who will travel alongside the team.
Iran’s football federation stated the U.S. has removed the ticket quota allocated to Iranian fans for the World Cup, hindering the federation’s distribution efforts.
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran revealed Tuesday that FIFA… pic.twitter.com/wQWutwM94w
— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) June 10, 2026
Visa rejections are a frequent theme in this World Cup. Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, named CAF’s Best African Referee of 2025, was barred from participation despite holding a diplomatic passport; he was refused entry and sent back. Somalia is included in the Trump administration’s travel ban list.
The head of the U.S. World Cup task force was queried about why Omar Artan was denied entry.
He responded that individuals communicating with those intending harm against the U.S. would not be allowed in.
When asked whether Artan had communicated with such individuals, and who they were, he stated he couldn’t discuss it. pic.twitter.com/rOwT43oeGy
— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) June 10, 2026
Other national teams have faced similar obstacles; South Africa and Senegal have reported visa challenges and racist treatment, while Uzbekistan’s squad was subjected to searches with bomb-sniffing dogs.
Fans have not been spared either. Many supporters who secured tickets and accommodation are grappling with visa rejections, incurring financial losses. The International Sports Journalists Association, AIPS, has urged FIFA to address the numerous unacceptable visa complications facing journalists from Africa and Iran.
Amidst these complications, FIFA’s chief executive, Gianni Infantino, asserted that FIFA cannot impose conditions on event hosts. This surprises many fans, as FIFA has historically dictated terms to host nations, including Russia, which is currently barred from participating due to its actions in Ukraine (in stark contrast to Israel).
When Russia hosted the World Cup in 2018, it had to suspend standard visa regulations for the tournament. Foreign ticket holders could enter visa-free using a ‘Fan ID’ scheme.
Russia also undertook unusual measures to appease FIFA sponsors. For instance, vendors near Fan… https://t.co/LNWQuSJqtg
— Brian McDonald (@BrianMcDonaldIE) June 11, 2026
In the past, the UK government considered denying entry visas to the North Korean team during the 1966 World Cup due to diplomatic concerns. However, FIFA threatened to withdraw hosting rights if any qualified team was barred, prompting a reversal.
Most recently, FIFA stripped Indonesia of the U20 World Cup for refusing to guarantee Israel’s participation.
FIFA stripped Indonesia of the U20 World Cup after it refused to guarantee Israel could be hosted and compete. https://t.co/6ISLKqo9j4
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) June 10, 2026
FIFA’s Troubling Alliance with Trump
As Infantino defends FIFA’s role, he is fully aware that the organization relaxed its own standards to award the U.S. co-hosting rights for this World Cup. In 2017, a year before the selection of the hosts, he acknowledged that the first Trump administration’s travel bans—including those impacting six predominantly Muslim countries—were at odds with FIFA tournament regulations. Infantino told reporters in London:
“Teams who qualify for a World Cup need to have access to the country. Otherwise, there is no World Cup. That is obvious.”
While that statement may have been clear back then, it’s far less so now. Fans are increasingly expressing that if the U.S. government didn’t want citizens from other countries, it should not have bid for the World Cup. Moreover, FIFA should not have accepted the U.S. as a host nation.
Growing concerns also surround the unsettling aspects of this World Cup. As WIRED reports, the narrative of this year’s event may unfold more off the pitch than on it:
Experts warn that increased terrorism fears related to the Iran conflict could lead the Trump administration to deploy invasive surveillance measures without proper oversight. Furthermore, there are concerns that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement may conduct aggressive enforcement operations during the tournament.
Human Rights Watch, conversely, has called on FIFA to advocate for an “ICE truce” for the duration of the event, although ICE’s ultimate role remains uncertain.
“Security is often invoked to further agendas unrelated to safety,” warns Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst at the ACLU, “and in the Trump administration, that often translates into using surveillance systems to facilitate authoritarian deportation efforts.”
Despite FIFA’s willingness to accommodate the Trump administration on multiple fronts, the governing body has engaged in numerous efforts to ingratiate itself with Trump and his associates. According to the NYT, “A Yearslong Effort to Woo Trump Culminates With the World Cup”:
Gianni Infantino, the FIFA president, has unreservedly sought Trump’s favor, prompting soccer officials to wonder: who truly benefits?
For the past year, FIFA has been leasing office space on the 17th floor of New York’s Trump Tower, though the office remains largely unutilized. The rent benefits Trump’s family business, yet soccer officials assert the space rarely sees activity.
Choosing to pay rent to the Trumps was Infantino’s decision; he prioritized proximity to Trump, showering him with accolades, trophies, and a medal. Infantino has visited Mar-a-Lago, the Trump National Doral golf club, and even attended the premiere of the “Melania” documentary.
Throughout Trump’s impeachments and declining popularity, Infantino has publicly supported the president.
FIFA officials identify their goals for the World Cup as increasing their visibility in the U.S. and fostering growth in the world’s largest consumer market while repairing their reputation plagued by corruption scandals.
FIFA’s decision in 2018 to award the 2026 World Cup to the U.S. likely hinged on the assumption that Trump would not be in power during the event. However, as the landscape has shifting, here we are.
Trump’s Controversial Award
Infantino’s attempts to curry favor with Trump reached alarming levels last December when FIFA presented Trump with its inaugural “peace prize.” This unconventional award lauded the U.S. president for “taking exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” despite his attacks on multiple nations within a year and for “uniting people across the world.”
In the weeks that followed, the Trump administration intensified military actions in Nigeria and Venezuela, even resulting in the abduction of the Venezuelan president and his wife. Three months afterward, Trump’s aggressive actions against Iran ignited regional conflict, largely supporting Israel’s oppressive regime.
As of June 3, 2026, U.S. military operations had resulted in the deaths of at least 207 people in 63 attacks on 64 vessels. The Trump administration has also contributed to the suffering of countless Cubans through its stringent sanctions.
While Trump may have “united” billions worldwide, it’s primarily against American imperialism. Currently, he struggles to feign unity even with the co-hosts, as he continues to threaten to abandon the USMCA agreement at the end of the month.
“I’m not looking to renew it,” Trump stated. “We don’t need anything that Canada has or anything that Mexico has; they need everything we possess. They have to treat us better.”
Trump further hinted at possible intervention against Mexico, claiming the military’s efforts targeting fentanyl trafficking had achieved a 97% decrease, shifting focus to the land border.
On the legislative front, Mexico’s Congress has recently ratified an amendment allowing for elections to be annulled in cases of foreign interference. Critics argue this may enable the ruling MORENA party to undermine voter choices, a reaction to tangible interference by the Trump administration in Latin American elections.
As with Milei in Argentina, Trump is explicitly tying U.S.-Colombia relations to his favored candidate’s electoral success.
If Colombian voters elect “El Tigre,” he will have “the total support and strength of the United States” pic.twitter.com/pxwtsdFQLr
— Vera Bergengruen (@VeraMBergen) June 10, 2026
Four presidents (Trump, Milei, Asfura, Noboa), one prime minister (Netanyahu), and an ex-president and drug smuggler (Hernandez) are colluding to disrupt elections in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico by establishing a media platform to manipulate public perception… pic.twitter.com/PCy7IAt3e0
— Arturo Dominguez (@extremearturo) May 12, 2026
The U.S. Embassy has issued travel advisories for American citizens heading to Mexico for the World Cup. In Mexico City, visitors should be cautious of risks related to both terrorism and crime, according to the State Department. In Nuevo León, they should also be vigilant about potential kidnapping threats.
If the 2026 World Cup was intended as a collaborative effort, that ambition appears to be faltering. As El Monde observes, “FIFA seems to have disregarded that the 2026 World Cup is also co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, both facing Trump’s threats. Once again, FIFA has remained silent.”
It remains to be seen whether this year’s World Cup will be a resounding success or a significant failure. The preceding 2022 World Cup was controversial for its labor and human rights abuses during costly preparations, alongside its severe environmental impact (estimated to exceed this year’s). Yet, the 2022 final was arguably one of the best in the tournament’s history.
One thing is clear: this year’s event will be leveraged as a platform for Trump’s self-promotion, with FIFA appearing complicit in the endeavor. The extent of the potential fallout remains uncertain, but as Lineker pointed out on Morning Joe, “Normally during World Cups, the focus is solely on the football, making for a light-hearted atmosphere… However, for this one, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
