World Cup Rolls on Amid War and Inflation

Donald Trump has issued a warning, saying Iran is taking too long to negotiate and will have to pay a heavy price. Meanwhile, Iran has shot down a US helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman in a drone attack. In Bangladesh, 539 children have died from measles symptoms in the past four months. Such distressing headlines dominate global news.

Yet, for the next month, much of this grim reality will be overshadowed by the World Cup. Every four years, this event offers people a brief escape from the burdens of everyday life. The world continues to run on its own course. Conflict between people and the pain of loss remain, but driven by the need to keep going, millions across the globe will find momentary relief in the magic of Lionel Messi’s feet.

Major global events like the World Cup and the Olympics traditionally carry messages of unity, where athletes from the most powerful nations and the poorest countries stand on equal footing. However, the 2026 World Cup departs sharply from that principle. The main host is the United States, where 78 of the 104 matches will be played under Trump’s administration.

The strictest restrictions have been imposed there. Canada will host 13 matches across two cities, though public interest in the tournament remains limited. The third co-host, Mexico, will also stage 13 matches across three cities. In a traditional sense, football enjoys genuine popularity only in Mexico. The Azteca Stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, has been renovated at a cost of around $185 million and now holds 87,500 spectators. The Mexican government has also spent heavily on stadium upgrades and infrastructure in Monterrey and Guadalajara. Corruption is deeply rooted in Mexico’s governance system, and allegations suggest much of this spending is intentional, with widespread financial irregularities.

The United States has allocated the largest share of spending to security. The Department of Homeland Security has set aside a total of $625 million ahead of the World Cup. A Washington official said the funds will be used to cover overtime costs for law enforcement personnel working continuously for three to four weeks. The Canadian government has also allocated $145 million for public safety. These figures clearly indicate that the tournament is being treated less as a celebration and more as a burden in both countries.

Many people from across the world attempt to migrate to Canada and the United States in search of a better life. During World Cups, host countries often ease visa procedures, as seen in Qatar and Russia, where entry was granted to spectators holding match tickets.

This time, however, the situation is the opposite. Many ordinary fans have been denied visas for Canada and the United States. Iranian players participating in the World Cup have not been allowed to stay overnight in the US They will remain in a base camp in Mexico, fly in on match days, play, and leave the United States the same day. Several members of the Iranian team have been denied visas, and their supporters are also unable to obtain tickets. Even Omar Artan, a referee appointed by FIFA for World Cup matches, was denied entry upon arrival at Miami Airport and sent back by US Customs and Border Protection after arriving from Somalia.

While concerns about a Somali national potentially remaining illegally in the US may be understandable, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has questioned why Scottish citizens were denied visas to attend World Cup matches. British passport holders normally require an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) for stays of up to 90 days in the United States. Many Scottish fans hoping to attend the tournament have reported that their ESTA approvals were revoked at the last moment.

“I received an email on Tuesday afternoon informing me that my ESTA had not been approved,” 43-year-old Scottish citizen Scott Braid, who had planned to travel to Boston with his family, told the BBC in surprise.

The visa restrictions are not limited to a divide between developed and developing nations; they also reflect the strict scrutiny of the Trump administration. Acting Assistant Secretary for Homeland Security Lauren Biss said, “The Trump administration is now enforcing immigration laws. Travelers must provide complete and truthful information, including all criminal history. Any concealment of arrest or conviction records will be considered misrepresentation, which may result in ESTA cancellation, denial, or a permanent ban on entry to the United States.”

Alongside visa restrictions, rising ticket prices are also discouraging fans. Gerard Beck, who has been attending England matches since the 1972 European Championship, has preserved a collection of tickets from matches he attended, including World Cup games. He told the BBC that he will not attend this year’s World Cup due to excessively high ticket and airfare costs, calling it a betrayal of fans.

Unlike the Qatar and Russia World Cups, where public transport was free for ticket holders in host cities, the opposite is true this time. Prices have been increased significantly. A train ride from New York to New Jersey, previously costing $13, will now cost $98 during the tournament. Parking near stadiums on match days will range from $75 to as high as $3,000 depending on the match and venue.

With 48 teams participating and matches spread across three countries, the 2026 World Cup could have been the largest in its 96-year history. Instead, even before the opening whistle, it has already earned the label of the most chaotic and expensive World Cup ever staged.