The 23rd edition of the 2026 World Cup, which will start in 50 days in the United States, Mexico and Canada, faces five major problems that worry both fans and organizers.
The ambiguity of Iran’s participation: Despite FIFA’s assurances of the necessity of its participation, the Iranian national team’s presence remains undecided. Tehran made it a condition of ensuring the safety of its players in light of the military tensions with Washington, and FIFA rejected its request to move the national team’s matches to Mexico.
High transportation costs: Fans face a significant increase in transportation prices, especially in major cities such as New York, where the price of train trips to the final match stadium has increased by about 12 times. While cities like Los Angeles and Philadelphia have pledged to stabilize prices, in other areas the cost will quadruple.
Ticket price crisis: There is widespread dissatisfaction among fans due to ticket prices that exceeded previous promises ($21), as the price of the cheapest ticket currently reached $60, while ticket prices for the final match exceeded the $10,000 barrier, which led to weak demand for purchasing tickets for some matches.
Fears of security raids: US immigration policies and mass deportations raise concerns among European and international audiences. FIFA is currently seeking to persuade the US administration to temporarily suspend ICE raids during the tournament to ensure the safety of incoming fans.
Security concerns in Mexico: A shooting incident targeting tourists at the archaeological site of Teotihuacan brought to mind security concerns in Mexico. Despite the Mexican presidency’s pledge to take exceptional measures, the escalation of violent incidents raises questions about the authorities’ ability to protect World Cup visitors.
