The FIFA World Cup is set to return to North America this July for the first time since 1994. With 48 teams and over 100 matches, the tournament will be hosted mainly in the United States, with various games also taking place in Canada and Mexico. Hosting the historically prestigious event is an honor and a huge opportunity for the U.S.; however, questions have arisen about whether the country is fit to host the tournament amid various logistical, political, and social challenges.
FIFA, football’s international association, says global interest in the tournament is skyrocketing, with over 500 million ticket requests submitted. That’s a record, but fans may have overlooked the prices. This will be widely regarded as the most expensive World Cup to ever attend, with first-round tickets soaring over hundreds and even thousands of dollars, and only a small percentage of tickets under $100. For the millions of fans who can’t purchase these tickets, the prices make what should be a global celebration of sports feel exclusive and inaccessible.
Global soccer fans will often travel long distances for the World Cup, but for 2026, getting into the United States could be harder than ever. The current presidential administration, amidst its crackdown on immigration, has tightened regular visa procedures for many visitors and banned a variety of countries from even entering the country, such as Iran, Brazil, and 73 more, with stricter limits for entry. According to an article from the Washington Post, the Department of Homeland Security proposed to require visitors from visa-waiver countries to provide extensive personal data, including years’ worth of documents, which many argue would deter travel altogether.
In a press conference, Vice President J.D. Vance warmly welcomed fans from other countries, but supported the idea of doubling down on the border restrictions. “…of course, everybody is welcome to come and see this incredible event… but when the time is up, they will have to go home. Otherwise, they’ll have to talk to Secretary Noem, [Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security],” Vance said.
Travelers abroad are alarmed by the country’s extensive policies to limit immigration and enforce the border, worrying it might make planning the World Cup risky. However, FIFA has launched a priority visa program called the FIFA PASS to ease access. The pass is a voluntary process that allows ticket holders traveling to the U.S. to access prioritised interviews to be granted entry into the country.
Some host countries in the past hosted the tournament in turbulent conditions. Argentina hosted the 1978 World Cup under a military dictatorship with widespread human rights abuses, a violent military, and chaos in the streets, yet the event still went on and is remembered as one of Argentina’s football team’s greatest victories. In 2022, Qatar was met with heavy activism. As the smallest country to ever host, smaller than the state of Connecticut, the country lacked stadiums, so it turned to its migrant labor force. The laborers were met with dangerous, exploitative, and inhumane conditions to build the stadiums in such a short time. Qatar officially refuted the exact number of deaths throughout the construction of the stadium, but it is known that many, possibly thousands, died.
The 2026 World Cup is still very capable of becoming an unforgettable global celebration of soccer in North America. Unfortunately, the reality of ticket affordability and travel barriers will become an obstacle to the tournament. But for a sporting event that celebrates global unity, the United States’ role as host will be closely scrutinized.
