Why super-sized and politicised World Cup comes at a cost

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has lauded the upcoming World Cup spanning the United States, Mexico, and Canada as "simply the greatest event that humanity, that mankind, has ever seen." He portrays the first pan-continental tournament as the most inclusive, welcoming, and unifying to date.

However, this super-sized World Cup is poised to be among the most contentious ever, facing criticism for being the most politicized, expensive, potentially hottest, most polluting, and certainly the most lucrative for FIFA. Away from the on-field action, a host of issues are expected to generate debate, including the costs for fans, the impact of geopolitics and immigration policies, security concerns, extreme weather, sustainability, and the influence of political figures like US President Donald Trump.

In Mexico City, a footballing hotbed that has witnessed some of the tournament's most iconic moments, the legendary Estadio Azteca is set to make history as the first venue to host the start of three different World Cups. Despite the excitement, the high cost of tickets in Mexico, as in the neighboring US where approximately 75% of matches will be held, has caused concern. Security in Mexico, a country grappling with significant cartel violence this year, is also a major worry.

Protests have erupted, with World Cup player statues in the capital being toppled by demonstrators. Teachers demanding higher wages have threatened to disrupt matches if their demands are not met. Meanwhile, the presence of the Iran squad in Tijuana highlights the complex political tensions surrounding the sporting event. This World Cup is unprecedented not only in its scale, spread across three countries with 48 teams and 104 matches, but also in its geopolitical context, notably the fact that a host country is not at war with a participating nation.

Confusion has surrounded Iran's participation following military actions between the US, Israel, and Iran. While a ceasefire was established in early April, intermittent strikes have continued. President Trump had at one point questioned the appropriateness of Iran's participation due to safety concerns, with his special envoy even suggesting Italy, a four-time winner, could replace Iran after failing to qualify. Iran now appears set to participate in the tournament.

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Simply the greatest event that humanity, that mankind, has ever seen.