Sport’s biggest spectacle was never supposed to look like this. Clouded by controversy, economic exclusivity and passport privilege has taken over in ways people never associated with the global game. And, of course the tournament is being played in the shadow of relentless international tension and war.
All of that has pundits, professionals, and football fans alike asking an all important question: Who is this World Cup actually for? The answer isn’t an easy one to find. Perhaps, we should instead be asking, who isn’t it for, given all the visa issues and customs troubles circulating in the media in recent weeks. That, undoubtedly, is a far easier question to place — and the issues extend far beyond entry into the United States.
A historic selection thwarted by a political ban
Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan, who was set to become the first Somali to officiate been at the World Cup, was denied entry into the United States upon arrival at Miami International Airport, despite holding a valid US visa and a diplomatic passport issued with the assistance of the Somali Embassy in Nairobi. Artan, the 2025 CAF men's referee of the year was detained and repatriated upon arrival in Florida, leaving him stranded in Turkey.
Detainees and denied entry
Two members of Iraq's World Cup delegation were held at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport late Friday night, with one subsequently deported. The squad had flown into the city ahead of a World Cup warm-up fixture against Venezuela on Tuesday night. Upon arrival, US Customs and Border Protection agents detained star forward Aymen Hussein, holding him for seven hours before eventually clearing him to enter the country. The team's photographer, Talal Salah, was also held at the airport but was not as fortunate. He was deemed inadmissible and refused entry on vetting grounds.
The host nation is in an active war with one of the participating nations
The political backdrop of the World Cup is impossible to ignore. Joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran beginning in February sent tensions in the Middle East to a new high, casting a long shadow over the logistics of Iranian participation. Despite it all, Iran is set to feature at a fourth consecutive World Cup. Iran's path to the tournament has been anything but straightforward. In recent months, President Trump questioned whether it was appropriate for the Iranian team to participate, citing concerns for their safety, while his special envoy floated the idea of replacing them with Italy who had failed to qualify.
Pride clash looms over Iran-Egypt fixture in Seattle
Long before the draw was made, local organisers in Seattle had identified a World Cup match as an opportunity to highlight the city's LGBTQ+ community. The planned event coincided with a match in which Iran would compete against Egypt. While the event is not slated for inside the stadium, which falls under FIFA's jurisdiction, they were planned to take place in the surrounding areas and across the city, according to organisers Seattle World Cup 26. The situation elicited an outcry across social media, and prompted a response from the official football federations of both nations.
America’s gun violence problem resurfaces again
A shooting near England's designated base in Kansas City, Missouri left nine people not associated with the national team injured. American police responded to reports of gunfire on Troost Avenue, a street that sits a short distance from the hotel and training facility England will use when they travel to the city in the coming days.
The most expensive World Cup ever
Attending this tournament will cost fans more than any previous World Cup — and not just because of inflation. FIFA has introduced dynamic pricing for the first time, meaning ticket costs for high-demand fixtures have surged well beyond the standard rates. Also new to this edition is the decision to charge admission to official fan festival zones, venues that have historically been free public gatherings. Fans in Los Angeles County are now paying between $10 and $25 to enter designated public viewing spaces, while entry in New Jersey is set at $12.50.
A long, hot summer
Concerns over heat have loomed over the tournament since early 2025, when researchers at Queen's University Belfast flagged potential risks across most host cities and called on FIFA to push kick-off times later into the afternoon or evening. Their findings suggested that wet-bulb globe temperature readings — a measure that factors in humidity, wind, and radiant heat alongside air temperature — in certain venues would exceed those recorded in Qatar during its winter-hosted edition.
Venomous snakes put Switzerland camp on edge
Switzerland face an unusual challenge in their World Cup preparations after officials warned players about a snake-infested area near their US training base. The Swiss national team's official account posted photos of the training camp showing various areas used by players during preparations — including the goalkeeping zone, gym, and changing rooms — with one detail standing out: a large perimeter around the pitch designated as a "snake zone," with a clear warning urging players to exercise caution.
Norway's players were similarly cautioned upon arriving at their base in Greensboro, North Carolina, with Haaland and his teammates instructed to keep their distance from snakes and avoid any contact with them, given the widespread presence of the venomous copperhead species in the area.
Visa bonds price out fans from five nations
The Trump administration's introduction of a visa bond policy in August 2025 created another barrier for prospective World Cup supporters. The measure targets nationals from countries flagged for high overstay rates, insufficient screening data, or citizenship-by-investment schemes that require no residency. Among the qualified World Cup nations caught in its scope are Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia. Fans must post a deposit of up to $15,000 to secure the B-1/B-2 visitor visa required to attend matches on US soil.