2026 World Cup Faces Criticism Over Politics, Fan Access, and Ticket Prices

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, is facing significant criticism regarding FIFA's political neutrality, fan accessibility, and ticketing practices. FIFA President Gianni Infantino's public displays of support for former US President Donald Trump, including wearing a "USA" baseball cap and presenting a "FIFA Peace Prize," have drawn scrutiny. FIFA's statutes mandate political neutrality, yet Infantino's actions have created an impression of aligning international sports with state interests, particularly as the US is engaged in a military conflict with Iran, one of the participating teams.

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According to its own statutes, FIFA is supposed to be politically neutral. However, Infantino has created the impression that he is deliberately mixing international sports politics with the interests of a state.

Fan access to the tournament is severely restricted by US entry regulations. Spectators from Iran and Haiti face a complete entry ban, with only teams and staff permitted. Fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast also encounter significant hurdles due to suspended tourist visa issuance, partly attributed to past visa overstays. Concerns about potential operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers near stadiums have created unease among attendees.

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For Iran and Haiti, a complete entry ban applies to spectators, only the teams and their support staff are allowed to enter the country.

Furthermore, the ticketing process has been met with widespread discontent. Initial prices were exceptionally high, with premium tickets for the final costing around $11,000. FIFA's use of "dynamic pricing" causes prices to fluctuate significantly, leading to fans paying different amounts for identical seats. Accusations of price gouging, lack of transparency, and unfair sales practices have been leveled against FIFA by fan organizations and consumer protection groups, resulting in a formal complaint to the European Union and investigations by the attorneys general of New Jersey and New York.

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US immigration policies and the possibility of operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers are fueling a sense of unease.